stiykist
November 18-24 marks World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week, also known as antibiotic resistance. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics occurs due to their excessive use, improper prescription, and non-compliance with the treatment course. With each misuse of an antimicrobial, some bacteria survive. They multiply further, and the new generation of these bacteria cannot be destroyed by this antibiotic.
According to the WHO, in 2019, almost 5 million deaths worldwide were associated with antibiotic resistance, including 1.27 million directly caused by it.
The gradual development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics makes it increasingly difficult to treat infectious diseases of bacterial origin, such as pneumonia, sore throat, tuberculosis, and gonorrhea. Surgical operations, such as cesarean sections or appendectomies, organ transplants, and chemotherapy are becoming more and more risky. People are increasingly dying from infections that humanity has long learned to treat.
If antibiotics stop working, 3 out of 10 cases of pneumonia will end in death, 5 out of 1000 women will not survive childbirth, and only a quarter of people with tuberculosis will be cured.
Antimicrobial resistance is especially dangerous in times of war. It significantly increases the burden on the healthcare system. When used properly, such drugs save the lives of wounded and sick soldiers. However, if resistance to such drugs has spread, it greatly complicates the treatment and recovery of patients. In addition, the functioning of the healthcare system in wartime involves a large number of evacuation stages. This increases the risk of additional infection of patients with pathogens that are not sensitive to many generations of antibiotics, as well as their spread between different hospitals.
The main causes of antibiotic resistance:
Overuse of antibiotics.
Use of antibiotics without a medical prescription.
Patients' non-compliance with treatment.
Excessive use of antibiotics in fish farming and livestock farming.
Inadequate infection control in hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Inadequate hygiene and sanitation.
To prevent antimicrobial resistance from becoming an even bigger problem, joint efforts are needed from both healthcare workers and patients.
In 2015, the WHO launched the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System. Ukraine joined it a few years ago and is actively implementing the changes necessary to confront the problem.
According to the Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine No. 1614 dated 03.08.2021, each hospital, regardless of ownership, must implement a system of infection prevention, administration of antimicrobial drugs, and establish an infection control department. The set of measures envisaged by this order will improve the record keeping of infectious diseases related to the provision of medical care, strengthen their prevention, reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance, and optimize the use of antibiotics.
Training continues in the following areas: clinical pharmacy, infection control, and microbiological research.
In addition, the Ministry of Health approved a new Standard of Medical Care "Rational Use of Antibacterial and Antifungal Drugs for Therapeutic and Prophylactic Purposes" by Order No. 1513 dated 23.08.2023. Developed following the world's best medical practices, it defines which antimicrobials, in which cases, and by what mechanisms should be prescribed by doctors to patients to achieve high-quality and safe treatment with minimal risks of spreading antimicrobial resistance.
The introduction of an electronic prescription for antibiotics in August 2022 was a major step towards solving the problem of uncontrolled dispensing and irrational use of antibiotics. Since then, 933 thousand electronic prescriptions for antibiotics have been issued.
An e-prescription can be obtained from any doctor, regardless of whether you have a declaration with your family doctor. For patients, it is an additional step towards convenient and, most importantly, safe access to the medicines they need.
However, all the efforts of the medical system cannot be effective enough without the active participation of patients. Therefore, each of us needs to adhere to the following principles:
Take antibiotics only as prescribed by a doctor, and never prescribe them to yourself.
Complete the full course of antibiotic treatment, and strictly follow the dosage and duration of treatment prescribed by your doctor: do not skip medications, and do not interrupt treatment, even if you feel better.
Remember that antibiotics only work on bacteria. Never use them for colds and other viral infections.
Do not share leftover antibiotics with friends or relatives and do not "prescribe" them treatment.
It is also always better to prevent infections than to treat them with antibiotics. To do this:
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 40 seconds before preparing and eating food, after coming in from the street, and after using the restroom.
Follow the rules of personal hygiene.
Use barrier contraception.
Get all vaccinations according to the calendar, as well as recommended vaccinations, including flu and COVID. These diseases are caused by viruses, but they can be complicated by bacterial infections.
Follow the principles of a balanced diet to prevent nutrient deficiencies in the body and the development of diabetes and other diseases. Eat at least 500 grams of vegetables and fruits every day, and reduce your intake of salt, sugar, and fast food.
Cook food safely. Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly, boil and fry meat and fish well, have a separate board for them wash them thoroughly, and follow the correct storage conditions.
If we do not all work together to combat this threat, we risk returning to the era before the invention and widespread use of penicillin, when women often died of "childbirth fever," military and civilians lost limbs to gangrene, and simple surgical procedures such as tooth extraction could result in sepsis and death.