Millions of people die each year from infections with drug-resistant bacteria. Experts in the field are looking for solutions to win the battle against superbugs that kill more people than HIV, malaria and tuberculosis combined.
Superbugs kill almost 5 million people every year – Photo Archive
Specialists from all over the world gathered in Geneva to develop a global plan against superbugs. Annually, 7.7 million people die from bacterial infections, making it the second leading cause of death globally. Therefore, antimicrobial resistance is also described as “the pandemic quiet“.
“It kills more people than HIV, malaria and tuberculosis combined”, said Professor Ramanan Laxminarayan, from Princeton University in the United States, according to The Lancet medical journal.
A recent study in the same publication points out that improved access to clean water, sanitation, infection control and childhood vaccinations could prevent 750,000 annual deaths linked to drug-resistant superbugs. The authors warn that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to global health. Urgent actions are needed to prevent infections and develop new antibiotics.
A series of articles published in The Lancet on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly call for global action against AMR and set ambitious targets to reduce deaths from it by 2030. The superbugs particularly affect infants, the elderly and those with illnesses chronic or requiring surgical interventions.
How hundreds of thousands of deaths could be avoided
Global goals to combat AMR must include, among other things, reducing the inappropriate use of antibiotics in humans and animals and improving access to effective antibiotics worldwide, experts say. Furthermore, a new analysis, presented in The Lancet, estimates that 750,000 deaths could be avoided by:
- Improving infection prevention and control in health care settings, including better hand hygiene and more regular cleaning and sterilization of equipment, could save up to 337,000 lives a year.
- Universal access to safe drinking water and effective sanitation in community settings could prevent an estimated 247,800 deaths annually.
- Expanding the implementation of some pediatric vaccines, such as pneumococcal vaccines, which help protect against pneumonia and meningitis, and introducing new ones, such as RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccines for pregnant mothers, could save 181,500 lives a year .
Prof. Emilian Popovici, the vice-president of the Romanian Society of Epidemiology, believes that “the problem of antibiotic resistance is also caused by the non-compliance with the protocols for the administration of antibiotics in the human species but also in animals“. The expert claims that “tons of antibiotics are given to animals”, and from there ultra-resistant bacteria can appear, given that humans, consuming products derived from animals, “eat antibiotics without wanting to“.
“With the same care as the use of antimicrobial medications for human health, the use of this type of medication for animal health and breeding must be strictly supervised and regulated“, emphasizes Dr. Emilian Popovici.
Solutions
Promoting the appropriate use of antimicrobial drugs is essential in combating antimicrobial resistance, according to Dr. Emilian Popovici. This involves training health professionals, educating patients and the public, implementing medication stewardship programs, and using vaccines to reduce the need for antimicrobial treatment.
“Another important strategy is the improvement of measures to prevent and control healthcare-associated infections. This includes implementing strict hygiene practices, such as hand washing and the use of personal protective equipment, to prevent the spread of resistant pathogens.”, says the vice-president of the Romanian Society of Epidemiology.
In this sense, the Ministry of Health has proposed a project for the training of medical assistants in the prevention of nosocomial infections. The 16-week course includes 5 weeks of theory and 11 weeks of practice, followed by a final exam.
On the other hand, “surveillance and monitoring systems must be strengthened to track the spread of antimicrobial resistance and identify emerging resistant strains.“, emphasizes Dr. Emilian Popovici.
Global collaboration is essential to combating antimicrobial resistance, this “includes collaboration with international organizations such as World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization, to develop and implement global strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance. In addition, countries should work together to share best practices, resources and information to address this global health threat.”concludes the epidemiologist.
Need for new antibiotics
At the same time, there is a need for new drugs and alternative treatments. Recently, the European Commission authorized Emblaveo, an antibiotic developed by Pfizer, to treat severe intra-abdominal infections, urinary tract infections and hospital-acquired pneumonia. This drug fights antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fills an important gap in available treatments. The approval comes after a fast-track assessment by the European Medicines Agency, due to its major public health benefits.
Antimicrobial resistance, described as “the silent pandemic”, causes 35,000 deaths annually in the EU and 4.9 million globally.
