The World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is a global campaign that is celebrated every year from November 18-24 to create awareness and understanding of the issue.
This year, the theme of WAAW 'Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together' highlights the importance of strengthening preventive measures to address AMR by working together through a one health approach.
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
Antimicrobial resistance is currently one of the biggest threats to global public health. The World Health Organization’s recent report 'Global antimicrobial resistance and use surveillance system report: Early implementation 2020' published some alarming AMR rates from 78 countries.
The annual deaths from drug-resistant infections are projected to increase from the current 700,000 to 10 million globally by 2050 if nothing is done to intervene on containment of AMR. Researchers have estimated that bacterial antimicrobial resistance caused 1.2 million deaths in 2019.
The major concern is the emergence and spread of multi-drug-resistant bacteria, where it seems we are running out of treatment options. In addition, greater attention should be paid to emerging resistance to antimicrobials used for the treatment of HIV, TB and malaria.
The primary cause of AMR globally is antibiotic overuse and misuse, be it from doctors inappropriately prescribing antibiotics to treat viral infections or individuals seeking over-the-counter antibiotics for self-treatment.
But another driver, less obvious than overuse in humans, is the use of antimicrobials in livestock, and the ratio of use in animals as compared to humans is astounding. In addition, poor disposal practices and the presence of antimicrobials in the environment, water bodies and water streams.
When used appropriately, antimicrobials could protect patients from potentially fatal infections and improve patient outcomes in complex procedures such as surgery and in the administration of chemotherapy in immunocompromised individuals.
That is why action to confront and help overcome the problem must be taken now. Policies already exist and some are being formulated at international, regional and national levels.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board for example has published new rules on the disposal of pharmaceutical waste to ensure public safety with regard to handling and disposal of pharmaceutical waste to prevent hazardous outcomes.
In addition, the board has implemented a study on national level consumption of antibiotics for systemic use focused on import data. The surveillance on consumption is key for informing targeted interventions as well as policy recommendations.
The board has issued regulatory guidance targeted at healthcare providers and the public on appropriate handling and use of antimicrobials. We have also developed guidelines on schedules of health products and technologies aligning the categorisation of different products with the WHO Access-Watch-Reserve classification of antibiotics.
The board is currently working on an aide-memoire on AMR-focused regulatory inspections and a collaborative framework with environment management authority.
To curb AMR effectively and slow the spread of resistant strains, all sectors must join forces and encourage the prudent use of antimicrobials, as well as preventive measures.
The one health perspective on integration involves multiple sectors communicating and working together to design and implement programmes, policies, legislation, and research to achieve better public health outcomes.
Surveillance is a common theme that appears in recommendations for plans and strategies to tackle the issue. To prevent it further, it is imperative healthcare workers minimise the use of antimicrobial drugs where possible, utilise laboratory testing before prescribing antimicrobials and ensure correct prescriptions and uses of antimicrobials take place.
The policymakers and the political leadership must also play their role by ensuring legal and regulatory frameworks targeted at strategic interventions to combat AMR are developed and implemented.
Patients and the public must avoid self-medication, and over-the-counter use of antimicrobials, and only use antibiotics when prescribed by a duly qualified and licensed healthcare professional.
Last but not least, awareness and sensitisation on AMR among the key stakeholders must be strengthened and the national action plans and strategies on containment of AMR widely disseminated among the communities of practice in all sectors.
By working together to tackle AMR, we will help achieve sustainable development goals, save millions of lives, preserve antimicrobials for generations and protect the future from drug-resistant diseases.
CEO, Pharmacy and Poisons Board
