What causes AMR?
AMR is a natural phenomenon – it’s natural for things to evolve. Just like human beings have changed over time to adapt to their environment, so do microorganisms.
However, this process is sped up considerably by inappropriate use of antimicrobial medications. The more bugs are exposed to antimicrobials, the more opportunities they have to develop defences to these medications – we call this ‘resistance’.
Failing to prevent infections from spreading (i.e. poor infection control) is also a major accelerator of AMR. Poor cleaning practices like not washing your hands with soap after using the bathroom or not using a tissue to catch a sneeze when you’re ill or failing to wear the right protective clothing if you’re working in a healthcare environment can all contribute to AMR.
Can you give an example of an antimicrobial?
Antimicrobial medications include antibiotics such as penicillin which is commonly used first line to treat a wide range of infections. Did you know that up to 90% of people reporting penicillin allergy are not truly allergic to penicillin? This results in second or even third line antibiotics being used which are not always as effective and also drive AMR. Common symptoms such as diarrhoea and nausea are sometimes incorrectly labelled as an allergy to a medication, however they are actually side effects. If you think you are allergic to penicillin but do not know what the reaction was or have been told it was a childhood allergy but you’re unsure of the details, speak to your GP about reviewing your allergy status.
What effect does AMR have?
As AMR increases, infections become harder and sometimes are impossible to treat. This can lead to longer hospital stays, more severe illnesses and ultimately, more people dying. Routine operations, childbirth and cancer treatments become much riskier as they rely on effective antimicrobial medications to prevent and treat any infections that may occur. This may mean some procedures/ treatments may not be available in future due to the infection risk being too high.
What measures can we all take to help prevent antimicrobial resistance?
There’s lots of easy things we can do to prevent AMR, mostly around preventing infection and using medications in the right way. As mentioned before, washing your hands regularly is really important to prevent the spread of infection. Ensuring you’re up to date on your vaccinations also helps to reduce the need for antimicrobials, particularly as we are in flu season where viral infections are common. Respiratory viruses can be particularly difficult to treat as antibiotics don’t work for them, fortunately most resolve by themselves.
Being mindful around medications is also really important. Never demand antibiotics if your doctor has told you that you don’t need them. If you do need them, take the antibiotics as instructed and finish the entire course, even if you’re feeling better before the end. This ensures enough bugs are killed to limit the risk of AMR. Don’t save any prescribed medication for a later date and never share any antibiotics that have been prescribed for you to other people.
