“How deadly is antimicrobial resistance?”
I have been reading a lot about the growing epidemic of antimicrobial resistance. It may not be an issue now, but in 15 years it will. Are scientists and public health officials doing anything about this?
1 Answer
Yes, this is a priority issue for doctors and scientists with an interest in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.
There are efforts to limit the unnecessary use of antibiotics - it is felt that many antibiotics used are unnecessary, and that often treatment can be limited in duration. Antibiotics used in animal food for enhanced meat production is also a concern and there are efforts to limit the use of antibiotics for this purpose.
There is ongoing research into new antibiotics
There is ongoing research into vaccines that might be used
There is interest and research into the use of phages (basically viruses that attack bacteria)
There is interest in the development of monoclonal antibodies vs certain pathogens.
So you can help too. Keep up to date on the news. Vaccinate against vaccine preventable diseases. If your doctor recommends an antibiotic, ask her/him why, which one and for how long. And if you have a viral infection, you do not need an antibiotic.
There are efforts to limit the unnecessary use of antibiotics - it is felt that many antibiotics used are unnecessary, and that often treatment can be limited in duration. Antibiotics used in animal food for enhanced meat production is also a concern and there are efforts to limit the use of antibiotics for this purpose.
There is ongoing research into new antibiotics
There is ongoing research into vaccines that might be used
There is interest and research into the use of phages (basically viruses that attack bacteria)
There is interest in the development of monoclonal antibodies vs certain pathogens.
So you can help too. Keep up to date on the news. Vaccinate against vaccine preventable diseases. If your doctor recommends an antibiotic, ask her/him why, which one and for how long. And if you have a viral infection, you do not need an antibiotic.
