Antibiotics are medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Improper use, overuse or abuse They lead to the selection of bacterial strains that are resistant to treatment, which is known as bacterial resistance. According to the World Health Organization, antibiotic resistance is one of the top ten threats to health.
Spain is one of the EU countries that has seen the largest reductions in antibiotic consumption between 2014 and 2022; specifically, human mortality fell by 17% and animal mortality by 61%, according to the research agency. National Program Against Antimicrobial Resistance (PRAN). However, it still occupies the seventh spot in the intake ranking of these drugs, and overresistance to antibiotics continues to worry experts because of the risks it may pose to people’s health.
“Bacteria are alive, just like us, fighting to survive. If we abuse one form of attack too much, they learn how to protect themselves. Unfortunately, today we have super-resistant bacteria, They have built their own shelter and are difficult to treat even with antibiotics,” he noted. Roy Pinheiro PerezDrug Committee Coordinator Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP). Therefore, it is very important to use them correctly.
in the prelude European Antibiotic Care Daycelebrated on November 18, and World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness WeekFrom November 18 to 24, the Spanish Pediatric Association put forward five suggestions for making good use of antibiotics and reducing bacterial resistance.
AEP’s recommendations
To promote its proper use, the AEP recommends that physicians prescribe the right prescription. The association explains that antibiotics are sometimes given “just in case” without good reason to suspect a bacterial infection may be present. For AEP, the key to reversing this trend is continued training of health workers. Regardless, if a healthcare provider prescribes antibiotics for a suspected bacterial infection, the antibiotics must be discontinued as soon as it is confirmed that the infection is caused by a virus or other microorganism.
Along these lines, the Spanish Pediatric Association recalls Antibiotic treatment should not last longer than necessary. “Each disease requires several days, and these are clearly defined in the protocol and consensus document. More treatment time does not mean better cure of the infection,” they explain.
Health experts reiterate that Do not take antibiotics if you have the flu, viral infection, pain, or cold. Antibiotics only work against bacteria, and if we take them haphazardly to treat viral infections like the flu, COVID-19, or the common cold, they won’t work when we really need them. Finally, the AEP emphasizes that antibiotics should never be taken without a doctor’s prescription, although this is increasingly rare.