Antibiotic resistance, or antimicrobial resistance (AMR), poses a significant threat to human health. An increasing number of infectious diseases are becoming more challenging to treat due to the declining effectiveness of antibiotics. The consequences of AMR include longer hospital stays and rising mortality rates.
What is Antibiotic Resistance?
Antibiotic resistance is a phenomenon where bacteria causing infectious diseases become resistant to the effects of antibiotics. As a result, microorganisms do not die, and their reproduction continues unabated.
Frequent and improper self-treatment, incomplete courses of treatment, or failure to follow doctors' recommendations regarding dosages and duration of antibiotic use contribute to the development of resistance among microorganisms.
Key issues related to antibiotic resistance are discussed by Manar Smagul, Deputy Chair of the Board of the National Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Saule Sarsenbayeva, MD, Associate Professor, MBA, and pediatrician of the highest category.
Sources of Antibiotic Resistance
"Antibiotics should be used only to treat bacterial infections; however, over 50 percent of their use is for viral infections, where they are ineffective. In Kazakhstan, the over-the-counter use of antibiotics is common, which reduces their effectiveness," emphasizes Saule Sarsenbayeva.
In clinics, there is an observed use of reserve group antibiotics, which should only be prescribed for serious infections. Additionally, in agriculture, antibiotics are used for the rapid growth of animals, which also contributes to the development of resistant strains. The use of hygiene products containing antibiotics also leads to an increase in AMR.
What Are the Dangers of Antibiotic Resistance?
"According to WHO data, in 2021, there were 1.14 million deaths directly linked to AMR worldwide. By 2050, the number of deaths due to AMR could rise to 10 million. Antibiotic-resistant infections are difficult to treat; they require more expensive and sometimes toxic alternatives. This can lead to an increase in mortality and significant economic costs," notes Manar Smagul.
Currently, existing antibiotics are no longer effective in treating such infections. More than 2000 types of antibiotics are known today, about 600 have been described, and 180 are in use, as some antibiotics turned out to be toxic or poorly effective. No new antibiotics have been developed in over 30 years.
Moreover, antibiotics have a multifaceted negative impact on the body. There is now a clear link between the use of antibiotics and disruptions in the human microbiome associated with obesity, diabetes, depressive disorders, autism, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular events, and more. Antibiotics act as mitochondrial toxins, disrupting energy metabolism, especially in the brain.
Impact on Children's Health
"Children are more vulnerable to infections due to age-related factors and intensive growth. Antibiotics are often unjustifiably prescribed for symptoms of ARVI, even though bacterial complications occur in only 3-8 percent of cases. Antibiotics are not used for the prevention of bacterial complications in viral infections. Doctors are aware of the clear indications for prescribing antibiotics, and there are standards for providing medical and specialized care to children with respiratory diseases of varying severity in our country. However, in practice, 8 out of 10 children with viral infections still receive antibiotics," states Saule Sarsenbayeva.
Self-prescribing antibiotics to children by parents for various illnesses, unauthorized changes to medication dosages, and interrupting treatment courses also contribute to the emergence of resistant bacteria. Children under the age of 5 are at risk of developing resistant pneumococcus, which is a cause of pneumonia.
The impact of antibiotic resistance on children's health includes:
For more information on the issue of antibiotic resistance, listen to the podcast featuring professors and experts.
How to Change the Situation with AMR
The main recommendations for each of us include avoiding self-medication, adhering to dosages and treatment courses for antibiotics, vaccination, maintaining hygiene, and refraining from using antibacterial hygiene products.
Government measures in Kazakhstan include the implementation of a roadmap to combat AMR from 2023 to 2027 with the support of international organizations. In laboratories across each region, pathogen resistance to antibiotics is assessed quarterly.
"Conducting educational campaigns for the public on the proper use of antibiotics and the consequences of their inappropriate use. Increasing awareness among medical professionals about the global problem of antimicrobial resistance. Strengthening regulations and controls over the sale of antibiotics without prescriptions. It is essential to tighten control over the unjustified use of antibiotics not only in the healthcare sector but also in agriculture," concludes Manar Smagul.
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