Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global threat. In 2019, approximately 5 million people died due to this problem.(1) It is estimated that by 2050 it will overtake cancer as the leading cause of death.(twenty three) The good news is that there’s a lot we can do about this resistance.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, and even fungi and parasites change over time. They then stop responding to the medication, so it becomes more difficult to treat the infection. Additionally, as a result of this difficulty, patients are at increased risk of complications from other conditions that they may suffer, thereby increasing the risk of death.
In fact, according to the Global Response to Drug-Resistant Infections report, if urgent measures are not taken, it is expected that antimicrobial resistance may surpass cancer as the leading cause of death by 2050.(3) Spain has one of the highest frequencies of antibiotic-resistant infections in Europe and one of the highest consumption of antibiotics in Europe.(3).
Therefore, today, antimicrobial resistance has become a public health issue and was listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020 “Urgent health issues around the world.” The reason, he said, was “a horrific cocktail of factors such as unregulated prescription and use of antibiotics, lack of access to quality medicines at affordable prices; lack of clean water and sanitation services and infection prevention and control.”(4)
In addition, multidrug-resistant bacteria have a clear impact in the EU. From an economic perspective, the cost of additional hospital days in hospital centers due to antimicrobial resistance, for example, amounts to €1 billion per year, explains Dr. Jordi Vila from the Microbiology Department of the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona.(5)
Realizing our responsibility: “Fight antibiotic resistance, we can do a lot” campaign
Combating antimicrobial resistance therefore requires a global and holistic approach. Rapid diagnostic tests are necessary to adopt the most appropriate treatment, monitor antibiotic prescriptions or systematically evaluate treatments. Therefore, to draw attention to this global challenge, World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week has been held for several years. This year’s meeting was held between November 18 and 24 and discussed the progress of the matter. And, there’s a lot anyone can do about this problem that increases the chance of infection.
To combat antimicrobial resistance, it is important to understand that antibiotics must always be prescribed by a doctor. Shionogi, in collaboration with the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and with the support of SEIMC and CiberInfect, has launched a campaign whose main message is “There’s a lot we can do to fight antibiotic resistance” Among other things, it exemplifies the fact that a medical prescription is required because, due to ignorance, a person may take antibiotics to treat an infection for which these drugs are not suitable, such as the common cold or the flu. Not only does this mistake mean the infection goes unresolved, it can also lead to the bacteria in our gut becoming resistant to these antibiotics.
On the other hand, during this awareness campaign, patients are provided with certain guidelines to help reverse this worrying condition. Remember, you should never interrupt treatment as directed by your doctor in terms of dosage, timing, or schedule. Doing so, even if the patient feels better, means the infection may not be cured and the bacteria may become resistant to this antibiotic. It is also important not to store antibiotics but to deposit them at a collection point within the pharmacy after treatment is complete.
Finally, as part of this promotional event in Barcelona, sponsored by Shionogi, a day was held for health science students. Health experts meet to ‘find out everything you need to know about antibiotic resistance’ on 22 November
The meeting was also attended by experts such as Dr. Jordi Vila from the Microbiology Department of the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, who among other things raised the need to implement an action plan in every country focusing on the education of the people. , and among health professionals and veterinarians.
investment research
For more than 140 years, Shionogi has been developing antimicrobial treatments, both individually and through innovative alliances. Indeed, antibiotic development is expensive, with each new antibiotic costing approximately $1 billion to develop.(6), but the company is clearly committed to putting patients first. In this sense, it recognizes the importance of investing in infectious disease research despite the uncertainty surrounding investment returns.
Therefore, to address the complex global problem of antimicrobial resistance, Shionogi calls for the creation of a predictable and sustainable antimicrobial market through economic incentives; the harmonization of global regulation for the development and approval of new antibiotics, and the establishment of mechanisms that help Clinical trials network to conduct clinical research more efficiently. Additionally, he believes it is crucial to make effective medicines available to patients who need them.
(1) Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators. Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis. Lancet. 2022 Feb 12;399(10325):629-655. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02724-0. Epub January 19, 2022. Errata: The Lancet. 2022 Oct 1;400(10358):1102. Phone number: 35065702; PMCID: PMC8841637.
(2) Review of antimicrobial resistance. URL: https://amr-review.org/sites/default/files/December%20report%20-%20comparative%20deaths.jpg
(3) O’Neal. Tackling drug-resistant infections globally. URL: https://amr-review.org/sites/default/files/160518_Final%20paper_with%20cover.pdf
(4) World Health Statistics 2020. URL: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/338072/9789240011953-spa.pdf?sequence=1
(5) Economic Development Center, 2009
(6)DRIVE-AB. Revitalizing the Antibiotic Pipeline. summary report. 2018. http://drive-ab.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/DRIVE-AB-Final-Report-Jan2018.pdf