Antibiotic resistance is a serious threat to public health

A new WHO report addresses the issue of antimicrobial resistance, including antibiotics, globally for the first time. He indicates that this serious danger is no longer just a forecast for the future, because it is already manifesting itself in all regions of the world and can negatively affect everyone, regardless of age, in each country. Antibiotic resistance is a phenomenon when bacteria change so much that antibiotics have no effect on the body of people who need it to fight infection, and it is now one of the most serious threats for people's health.

"With the lack of rapid and concerted action by many stakeholders, our world is entering an era where antibiotics are no longer effective, and common infections and minor wounds that could have been healed for decades can now be killed at new, "said the Assistant Director-General of WHO. Health security Dr Keiji Fukuda - Effective antibiotics were one of the essential elements that allowed us to live longer, be healthier and take advantage of the benefits of medicine. If we do not take important steps to improve infection prevention and change manufacturing methods, purpose and use of antibiotics, the world will increasingly lose these advances in public health, and the consequences of inaction will be devastating. "

The report, titled “Antimicrobial Resistance: A Global Surveillance Report,” indicates that the element of resistance manifests itself in the case of a wide variety of different carriers of infection. At the same time, it draws attention to the antibiotic resistance of 7 different bacteria that cause widespread and serious illnesses, such as blood poisoning (sepsis), diarrhea, pneumonia, urinary tract infections and gonorrhea. These results are very worrying, documenting resistance to antibiotics, in particular those prescribed as a "last resort", in all regions of the world.

The report notes that the main tools for combating antibiotic resistance, such as basic systems for monitoring and controlling this problem, are characterized by certain shortcomings or simply do not exist in many countries. Although some countries have taken important steps to resolve this problem, each country and each person must nevertheless do more.

Other important measures include prevention of early stage infections - through better hygiene, access to clean water, infection control in health facilities and vaccination to reduce the need for antibiotics. WHO also draws attention to the need to develop new diagnostic tools for antibiotics and other drugs that would allow public health professionals to prepare for the emergence of drug resistance.

This report is a first step that should intensify WHO's global efforts to combat drug resistance. This involves the development of appropriate tools and standards and increased collaboration worldwide to monitor drug resistance, measure its impact on human health and the economy, and develop targeted solutions.

This report, which also includes information on drug resistance for the treatment of other infections, such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis and influenza, provides the most comprehensive picture of drug resistance to date, taking into account data from 114 countries.

The report highlights significant gaps in monitoring antibiotic resistance in the WHO African Region, as evidenced by data collected from a limited number of countries. Although it is not possible to assess the real extent of this problem on the basis of the available data, it is nevertheless worrying. There is evidence of significant resistance from certain bacteria, which are prevalent in hospitals and in the field. These cases include substantial resistance E. coli to third generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones, the two most important and widely used types of antibacterial drugs. In some parts of this Region, 80% of Staphylococcus aureus infections are thought to be methicillin resistance (MRSA), which means that treatment with standard antibiotics is not effective.

The Pan American Health Organization (WHO Regional Office for the Americas) coordinates the collection of data on antibiotic resistance in hospitals and laboratories in 21 countries in the region. The results show a high level of resistance E. coli to third generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones, the two most important and most used types of antibacterial drugs in America. Resistance to third generation cephalosporins when infected with K. pneumoniae is also high and widespread. According to reports, 90% of Staphylococcus aureus infections have methicillin resistance (MRSA), which means that treatment with standard antibiotics is not effective.

Report data show substantial antibiotic resistance across the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. In particular, high levels of resistance E. coli to third generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinalones, the two most important and most used types of antibacterial drugs. Resistance to third generation cephalosporins when infected with K. pneumoniae is also high and widespread. In some parts of the region, more than half of Staphylococcus aureus infections are thought to be methicillin resistance (MRSA), which means that treatment with standard antibiotics is not effective. The report notes significant gaps in monitoring antibiotic resistance in the region. The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean has identified strategic measures to contain drug resistance and is helping countries to develop comprehensive measures, strategies and program plans.

The report noted high levels of resistance to third generation cephalosporins when infected with K. pneumoniae throughout the WHO European Region. It appears that in many places, 60% of Staphylococcus aureus infections have methicillin resistance (MRSA), which means that treatment with standard antibiotics is not effective. The report concludes that while most countries in the European Union have effective national and international systems for monitoring antibiotic resistance, however, in other parts of the region, these systems need to be strengthened or created urgently. The WHO Regional Office for Europe and its partners support these countries through the newly established Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network for Central Asia and Eastern Europe (CAESAR). The objective of CAESAR is to create a network of national antibiotic resistance surveillance systems in all countries of the WHO European Region in order to standardize data collection to ensure the comparability of information.

Available data suggest that antibiotic resistance is an emerging problem in the WHO South-East Asia Region, which accounts for a quarter of the world's population. Report data indicate a high level of resistance E. coli to third generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones, the two most important and widely used types of antibacterial drugs in the region. Resistance to third generation cephalosporins when infected with K. pneumoniae is also high and widespread. Over a quarter of Staphylococcus aureus infections are reported to have methicillin resistance (MRSA) in parts of this region, which means that treatment with standard antibiotics is not effective. In 2011, regional health ministers committed to fighting drug resistance based on the Jaipur Declaration. Since then, work has been carried out to raise awareness of the need for an appropriate system for monitoring drug resistance, whereby all countries have decided to transfer information to the appropriate database on a regular basis. agreed. The WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, has identified drug resistance as one of the priority areas of work for WHO in the region.

Collaboration to monitor antibiotic resistance between countries in the WHO Western Pacific Region was established in the 1980s, but due to a number of emergencies, it began to decline in the early 2000s. However , many countries in the region have long established national sustainability monitoring systems. Recently, the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific has taken steps to strengthen regional collaboration. The report noted high levels of resistance E. coli to fluoroquinolones - the most important and widely used types of antibacterial agents in the region. Resistance to third generation cephalosporins when infected with K. pneumoniae is also widespread. In parts of the region, 80% of Staphylococcus aureus infections are thought to be methicillin-resistant (MRSA), which means that standard antibiotic treatment is not effective.