Antimicrobial awareness
Did you know that southend prescribes more antibiotics (per head of the population) than any other place in the East of England?
Antibiotics help fight severe infections, but they do not help treat common colds, coughs and COVID-19 and in fact often leave you with other side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. So, taking them when they are not required puts you at risk of unnecessary further illness. Using antibiotics can also cause bugs to develop resistance to medicines making them less effective. This means that routine medical procedures, minor injuries and common illnesses can become life-threatening. It is important therefore that we all learn how to keep antibiotics working.
Southend took part in a campaign to raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance in November 2024 - to find out more about this, please see Launch of Southend’s World Antimicrobial Week Campaign
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites (microbes) no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability and death.
Key fact 1: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global public health and development threats. It is estimated that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths. Behind every number, there is real, human cost.
AMR happens over time through genetic changes in microbes. Its emergence and spread is accelerated by their use, including misuse and overuse of antimicrobials to treat, prevent or control infections in humans, animals and plants.
Key fact 2: The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals and plants are the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant pathogens.
Antimicrobial medicines are the cornerstone of modern medicine. The emergence and spread of AMR threatens our ability to treat common infections and to perform life-saving procedures including cancer chemotherapy and caesarean section, hip replacements, organ transplantation and other surgeries.
Key fact 3: AMR puts many of the gains of modern medicine at risk. It makes infections harder to treat and makes other medical procedures and treatments – such as surgery, caesarean sections and cancer chemotherapy – much riskier.
AMR is a problem for all countries at all income levels. Its spread does not recognize country borders. Contributing factors include lack of access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for both humans and animals; poor infection and disease prevention and control in homes, healthcare facilities and farms; poor access to quality and affordable vaccines, diagnostics and medicines; lack of awareness and knowledge; and lack of enforcement of relevant legislation. People living in low-resource settings and vulnerable populations are especially impacted AMR.
Key fact 4: AMR affects countries in all regions and at all income levels, however, low- and middle-income countries are most affected.
AMR has significant costs for health systems and national economies. For example, it creates need for more expensive and intensive care, affects productivity of patients or their caregivers through prolonged hospital stays, and harms agricultural productivity. In addition, drug-resistant infections impact the health of animals and plants, reduce productivity in farms, and threaten food security, AMR can spread through the food chain, impacting both animal and human health and causing economic losses in the agricultural sector.
Key fact 5: In addition to death and disability, AMR has significant economic costs. The World Bank estimates that AMR could result in US$ 1 trillion additional healthcare costs by 2050
Priorities to address AMR in human health include:
- Preventing infections, with good hand hygiene, food hygiene, vaccination and environmental cleaning to reduce the need for use of antimicrobials.
- Access to quality diagnosis to ensure antimicrobials are used only when needed for infections and appropriate treatment of infections using the right antimicrobial at the right time for the right duration.
- Research and development for new vaccines, diagnostics and antimicrobials.