In order to prevent drug abuse and promote appropriate practices among patients and staff of public and private IPS in Bogota, the District Health Secretariat participates in World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week and carries out a series of activities to raise awareness among citizens and the health sector .
When microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites change upon exposure to antimicrobial drugs (antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, or anthelmintics) and compromise the effectiveness of preventing and treating the resulting infection. Antimicrobial resistance will occur.
As a result, antimicrobial drugs become ineffective and infections persist in organisms such as humans, animals, plants, etc., increasing the risk of transmission and promoting the emergence of serious disease.
In view of this, the Ministry of Health has been implementing different activities in hospital networks to prevent antimicrobial resistance, such as the Antimicrobial Optimization Program (PROA), with the aim of avoiding the misuse of drugs such as antibiotics. More related information in the post:
👉#无码NO: Using unmedicated antibiotics may affect how well you treat future infections.
❌Do not self-medicate.
✅Always follow your doctor’s advice. pic.twitter.com/NiJ2jEKEH0— District Health Secretariat (@SectorSalud) November 23, 2023
Bogota is the first national entity to develop and implement policies for the prevention, control and epidemiological surveillance of nosocomial infections and the containment of antimicrobial resistance to guarantee the safety and quality of patient care. This work is carried out in coordination with insurance companies (EAPB or EPS) to socialize infection control guidelines relevant to healthcare.
Guidelines have also been issued to prevent infections associated with equipment such as 103 mechanical ventilation, intravenous and urinary catheters, and infections associated with medical surgeries at IPS in the city.
The entity has been conducting courses on healthcare-associated infections, bacterial resistance and PROA implementation, biosecurity measures, cleaning, disinfection and isolation for more than 400 IPS healthcare workers.
To implement and enhance antimicrobial optimization programs, IPS must adhere to national and regional guidance on healthcare-associated infection surveillance and antimicrobial resistance containment, support and strengthen the talent pool of institutional infection committees, and continue to educate family members and staff. Patient hand hygiene, self-care recommendations, and appropriate use of antimicrobials.
With the motto “Let’s prevent antimicrobial resistance together”, citizens are called on to avoid the factors that create antimicrobial resistance:
• Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials by people, animals, and plants (e.g., taking antibiotics when you have a cold or without a doctor’s prescription).
• Improper food handling.
• Disease and infection control measures are poor as far as the medical center is concerned. To reiterate, citizens can help prevent and control this risk by taking antimicrobial medicines prepared only by health professionals (doctors or specialists), always following the instructions for use and not using leftover medicines for other diseases or for other diseases. friends, family or pets.
Antibiotics should not be used to treat viral illnesses such as the flu, common cold, or Covid-19 without bacterial superinfections and medical formulations.
Remember to implement infection prevention measures such as:
• Wash your hands often.
• Prepare food under hygienic conditions.
• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• Use protection during sexual relations.
• Keep vaccination schedules up to date for the entire family.