A recent multicountry survey from the WHO shows people are confused about the threat posed to public health by antibiotic resistance and do not understand how to prevent it. The event was established by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to raise awareness of antibiotic resistance. Every year 25,000 people across Europe die due to antibiotic resistance.
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In the United Kingdom only vets and doctors prescribe antibiotics but there has to be efforts from all parties, not just those prescribing medicines to ensure this risk is minimised.
“Many people do not realise that antibiotic resistant bacteria can pass between humans and animals and vice versa”, said Dr Diane Ashiru-Oredope, pharmacist lead for PHE’s antimicrobial resistance programme.
Over-use and misuse of antibiotics increase the development of resistant bacteria and the survey points out a few of the practices, gaps in understanding and misconceptions which contribute to this phenomenon.
In Russian Federation, only 56 percent of those who had taken antibiotics in the past year had them prescribed by a doctor or nurse.
Talking about why antibiotics should be rationally used, Dr Kishor Taori, the president of Maharashtra Medical Council, said: “The growing antibiotic resistance cases are one of the biggest healthcare problems”.
The World Health Organization has announced that antibiotic resistance has become a risky and global issue. Preserving the effectiveness of antibiotic drugs is vital to protecting human and animal health.
We’re told antibiotics only work against infections that have been caused by bacteria, and as all colds, most coughs and sore throats are caused by viruses – antibiotics won’t work.
She said: “While we don’t know for sure how many antibiotics are given to pets we do know more doctors are prescribing them for people, and that more super-resistant types of bacteria are starting to emerge around the world. Also ask them do I need this antibiotic, do you feel it’s important for me to have it or is this going to get better on it’s own”.
“We had this resistance problem, it has been confirmed in China, we could see an antibiotics post era apocalypse occurring if we don’t act quickly”, added Mr Nevin.
Professor Pete Borriello, Chief Executive of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, said: “Resistance to antibiotics is a global health issue”.
While almost half (44 per cent) of people surveyed think antibiotic resistance is only a problem for people who take antibiotics regularly.
The Bundaberg Hospital pharmacy team and their colleagues across the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service are also promoting Antibiotic Awareness Week to their patients and fellow WBHHS staff.
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Yesterday marked the launch of the Fiji National Antibiotic Resistance Action Plan 2015 at the Ministry of Health’s headquarters in Suva.
