World Antibiotic Awareness Week is being held in Belarus from November 1 to 6, 2024.
This problem concerns us all. It poses a threat to humans, animals, plants and the environment. The problem of the correct use of antimicrobials was first raised by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2015. Since then, large-scale events have been held annually to raise awareness of people around the world about the problem of infection resistance to antimicrobials, as well as the use of advanced approaches to prevent its further development and spread.
Antibiotics (antimicrobial agents) are substances of synthetic or natural origin that destroy microorganisms (bactericidal action) or suppress their ability to reproduce (bacteriostatic action). Antibiotic resistance is a consequence of their irrational use – their use unnecessarily, for a very short period of time and in insufficient doses, their use not for the intended purpose, that is, to treat a disease that the drug does not treat.
Currently, about 700 thousand people die each year due to antimicrobial resistance. According to experts, if the situation with the use of antibiotics does not change, then by 2050 antimicrobial resistance will cause 10 million deaths annually and will exceed mortality from cancer.
Each of us can contribute to the fight against antimicrobial resistance by following the recommendations developed by experts:
- Take antibiotics only as prescribed by a doctor;
- Always follow the recommended dosage and duration of use of prescribed antimicrobials;
- Never give your antibiotics to others and do not finish the remaining drugs “because it’s a shame to throw them away”!
Use antibiotics with caution!
Brest City Polyclinic No. 2. General practitioner Stanislav Dmitrievich Sosik.
