Drug resistance is killing millions
published : 7 Jul 2022 at 04:00
newspaper section: Oped
writer: Sonali Johnson

Some 1.27 million people died in 2019 directly as a result of infection because the bacteria causing the infection were resistant to the drugs designed to kill them, according to a recent study in The Lancet; overall, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is estimated to have contributed directly or indirectly to the premature, preventable deaths of nearly five million people in 2019.

In fact, AMR has become a leading cause of death worldwide, killing more people than HIV/Aids and malaria. By 2050, the number of deaths associated with AMR could reach 10 million and cost more than US$100 trillion (3.6 quadrillion baht) without collective action.

For people living with cancer, AMR poses a particular threat due to compromised immune systems resulting from chemotherapy and other treatments, which makes them even more vulnerable to infections. About one in 5 cancer patients undergoing treatment are hospitalised due to infection and antibiotics are a key line of defence in cancer care. AMR is therefore undermining key advances being made in cancer care by threatening the survival of people with cancer: it is estimated that 8.5% of deaths among people being treated for cancer are due to severe sepsis or blood poisoning.

Overuse and misuse of antimicrobial medicines in people as well as in farm animals are major factors that have contributed to the development of drug-resistant pathogens. For instance, they are too often prescribed for viral infections such as colds and flu, which are unaffected by antibiotics, and given preventatively and as growth promoters to healthy animals.

Full article: https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opi ... g-millions

Antimicrobial-resistance battle a top health priority, says Vandine
Mom Kunthear | Publication date 28 September 2022 | 20:21 ICT
A senior Ministry of Health official told the UN Global Leaders Group (GLG) that Cambodia has set the prevention of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the top priorities in the Kingdom’s health strategy plan for 2021-2030.

Ministry spokeswoman Or Vandine addressed the UN high-level meeting on AMR on September 22, held as part of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in the US’ New York City.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites mutate over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.

The overuse of antimicrobial medications and the incorrect use of them, such as taking an incomplete course of antibiotics, are the main causes of AMR.
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ ... ys-vandine

I could not seem to rid my simple road rash abrasions when in the KoW without a complex antibiotic. Invariably, abrasions got infected and would not go away. I always attributed it to the climate. Now that I am 8500 miles west and in a sub alpine desert the same scrape is gone in days, no band aids or ointment.