AMR: THE THREAT OF IMMUNITY CONTINUES
The misuse of antibiotics is one of the biggest drivers in the acceleration of antimicrobial resistance. Here, Dr Don Grant, MB, ChB, DRCOG, MRCGP - clinical lead at The Independent Pharmacy - tells SP about the dangers of misusing antibiotics…
Dr Donald Grant
study published earlier this year discovered that AMR was the direct cause of 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019.
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What is AMR? Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi develop the ability to resist antimicrobial treatments. As a result, antimicrobial medications such as antibiotics can become ineffective at treating infections, heightening the risk of severe illness and the spread of disease. Antibiotics are a type of antimicrobial substance developed to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria and fight infections in the body. They are therefore widely used in the treatment of bacterial infections. However, rising AMR rates are causing more and more antibiotics to become ineffective — which is a serious global health concern.
Is it possible to overuse antibiotics? Overuse of antibiotics is one of the primary causes of AMR, and it’s estimated that as many as one in three antibiotic treatments may be prescribed unnecessarily. Overuse can impact the effectiveness of antibiotics over time by enabling bacteria to build up resistance. This has led to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’, such as MRSA.
The misuse of antibiotics can also lead to AMR. For example, using an incorrect treatment (such as using antibiotics for a viral infection, which cannot be treated using antibiotics) can promote the spread of antibiotic-resistant properties in harmless bacteria.
Patients can ensure that they are taking antibiotics responsibly by: • Only using antibiotics that have been prescribed by a certified healthcare professional
• Never demanding antibiotics if they’ve been advised that they don’t need them
• Never sharing or using leftover antibiotics
It’s important that antibiotic use is monitored, reviewed and approved by a healthcare professional as they can ensure the treatment is appropriate and reduce the possibility of bacteria becoming resistant to the medication through misuse.
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scottishpharmacist.com
t’s predicted that, by 2050, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) could be responsible for up to ten million global deaths every year, while a
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