November 21, 2024This week is World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness week (WAAW), with this year’s global theme of “Educate. Advocate. Act Now.”
WAAW is a global campaign that aims to raise awareness and understanding of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) amongst healthcare providers and within the wider community to reduce the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance infections.
Antimicrobials are important medicines used to treat infections. Antibiotics are one type of antimicrobial that are used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Other antimicrobials include antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitic medicines, and are used to treat infections caused by viruses, fungi and parasites.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial agents. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals, plants and the environment and accelerating the development and spread of AMR worldwide.
“Antimicrobial resistance affects everyone,” said Danni Miatke, Infectious Disease and Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist.
“Infection caused by a resistant microbe can happen to anyone, anywhere. Even if you’re in good health, a minor injury, routine surgery, or a common lung infection could unexpectedly escalate into a life-threatening situation.”
“Globally, AMR is directly responsible for 1.3 million deaths annually and contributes to another five million deaths each year. The economic impact is also astronomical, with global costs estimated to reach US$3.4 trillion/ year, by 2030.”
During WAAW, Northern Health is going blue for AMR and is encouraging the community to participate by wearing light blue in support of the campaign. In addition, to help prevent the spread of AMR, the community should:
- Prevent infections by practising good hand hygiene and keeping vaccinations up to date
- Don’t request antibiotics for viral infections, such as coughs, colds and flu
- Take prescribed antibiotics exactly as prescribed. Don’t share antibiotics with anyone else and don’t use previously prescribed antibiotics for different illnesses
- Return any unused/unwanted antimicrobials to their pharmacy for destruction. Don’t put them in regular waste or down the sink.
Healthcare providers should:
- Only prescribe antimicrobials in-line with locally endorsed prescribing Guidelines, such as the Australian Therapeutic Guidelines
- Embrace Antimicrobial Stewardship! Consider – can we effectively use a narrower spectrum medicine, a less invasive route of administration or a shorter duration of therapy
To find out more information about the global campaign, please visit the below sites:
https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-amr-awareness-week/2024/amr-is-invisible-i-am-not
