A persistent infection, ineffective antibacterial products… Antibiotic resistance is a real threat, and the great people of this world are calling for action to be taken quickly to fight against it.
Antibiotic resistance continues to be of concern. “Permanent threat” in the United States, “return to the Middle Ages of medicine” in the United Kingdom … Between calls for joint action, worrying findings and recommendations, resistant bacteria have been talked about since the alert of the World Health Organization last April.
David Cameron on the front line
“If we fail to act, an unthinkable scenario looms: antibiotics no longer work and we go back to the Middle Ages of medicine, treatable infections and wounds kill again,” warns British Prime Minister David Cameron , interviewed by BBC. A few weeks ago, the WHO also brandished the threat of a “post-antibiotic era.” ”
A completely plausible scenario since each year, resistant strains of bacteria kill 250,000 people in Europe. Without protection against these, acts as harmless as childbirth, the fitting of a hip prosthesis or anti-cancer chemotherapy could become dangerous.
Salmonella threatens the United States
The current situation is not so dire. But it could become so if nothing is done, because it is undeniable that antibiotic resistance is progressing. As proof: the latest report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), published this 1e July. In 2012, 430,000 illnesses were caused by resistant bacteria. Those of food origin worry the institution, which evokes “a permanent threat. Salmonella is at the heart of fears since it alone accumulates 100,000 infections per year. Two strains are particularly monitored: Salmonella typhi, responsible for typhoid and which progresses by 68%, and the Salmonella Heidelberg, which is often found on poultry (25% resistant strains). Recalls of contaminated products are increasing, including in France which experienced a recall of 100 tonnes of reblochon infected with this bacterium last week.
10 actions against antibiotic resistance
According to David Cameron, antibiotic resistance was discussed at the last G7 summit held in Brussels (Belgium) and joint action should be discussed at the next international meeting. The British Prime Minister also announces the launch of a scientific journal around three main themes: the growing number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, the absence of new classes of antibiotics for more than 25 years, the abuse of antibiotics in the whole world.
The Alliance against the Development of Multi-Resistant Bacteria (WAAAR) has decided to take the bull by the horns. This group of 700 people representing health actors and users from 55 countries offers 10 actions to fight against antibiotic resistance. The “awareness of all the actors” is the sine qua non, but the “close cooperation” of the various political and economic actors cannot be ignored. For this, the WAAR believes, “information and education” must be provided to children and adolescents, information campaigns must be open to the general public, and health professionals should be trained to use less antibiotics. The organization also recommends the establishment of national plans to fight against antimicrobial resistance, which include monitoring the consumption of antibiotics and resistance at several scales – according to the model of the CDC (institutional, regional, national ). If the use of drugs is to be done with reason – in humans as well as animals – the WAAR calls for permanent access to “essential and quality” antibiotics in all countries. But before using them, it will be necessary to ensure their absolute necessity. Finally, research must continue to develop new classes of antibiotics, and this must be facilitated as much as possible. This step may be achievable since researchers have discovered the Achilles heel of resistant bacteria: a “door” which allows cells to develop a protective biofilm.
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