Antimicrobial Resistance: a growing healthcare crisis
Infectious diseases account for a substantial proportion of deaths worldwide. Much of the progress made in recent years in treating these infections is now threatened by a growing number of microbes that are becoming resistant to once effective drugs used to combat them. The decreasing effectiveness of antimicrobials (antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasites) is a growing global public health concern. Multi drug-resistance and gram negative bacterial resistance is a particular concern. Global taskforce objectives are encouraging when considering some of the newer drugs in the pipeline awaiting approval as well as defining and implementing guidelines to limit the use and prescribing of antimicrobials especially antibiotics. Bacteriophage therapy and traditional plant-based medicines offer further scope in tackling what is predicted to be one of the biggest medical challenges of the 21st century if left unchecked.
You can read the full article: Antimicrobial Resistance 2016
Article Reference: PHC February 2016; 26(1): 18-24.
Primary Health Care Journal is a Royal College of Nursing Publication
