Access to vaccines, drinking water, hygiene and infection control methods can prevent more than 750,000 deaths associated with Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) each year, according to a study published this Thursday in The Lancet.
The research, led by the University of Ibadan (Nigeria) and the University of California (USA), warns that the lack of health policies in this area could cause a constant increase in the number of deaths linked to AMR, whose annual figure is 4.95 million, mainly from low- and middle-income countries. Read here: Average life expectancy fell by 1.8 years after the covid-19 pandemic
The authors recall that antimicrobial resistance has more impact on children, the elderly and people with chronic diseases or who require surgical procedures.
Authorities, they emphasize, must improve and extend existing methods to prevent infections by promoting, for example, hand hygiene, regular cleaning and sterilization of equipment in health centers, the availability of drinking water, sanitation systems and the use of pediatric vaccines. Read here: Early diagnosis and personalized therapy can increase leukemia cure by up to 90%
They estimate that bacterial infections cause 7.7 million deaths worldwide each year – one in eight -, making them the second cause of death globally.
Of that total, almost 5 million deaths are related to bacteria that have developed resistance to antibiotics.
Consequently, the study calls for efforts to expand access to existing antibiotics and innovative treatments, as well as to increase investment to develop new antibiotics, vaccines and diagnostics designed to be affordable and accessible worldwide. Read here: Eight key recommendations for a safe and happy motherhood
“If these antibiotics are not provided, we risk failing to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals on child survival and healthy ageing. “Effective antibiotics prolong life, reduce disabilities, limit health care costs and enable other life-saving medical actions, such as surgery,” explains Iruka Okeke, from the University of Ibadan and co-author of the work, in a statement.
However, antimicrobial resistance is increasing, says the expert, who attributes this, among other factors, to the “inappropriate use” of antibiotics during the Covid-19 pandemic. Read here: Epilepsy: a brain disease that affects quality of life
“Effective antibiotics prolong life, reduce disabilities, limit healthcare costs, and enable other life-saving medical actions such as surgery.”
Iruka Okeke, from the University of Ibadan and co-author of the work.
While the scientific community works on the development of new antibiotics and vaccines, the focus of global action in the fight against AMR must be on interventions with proven effectiveness in preventing infections.
“Infection prevention reduces antibiotic use and reduces AMR selection pressure so that drugs work when they are needed most,” says co-author Joseph Lewnard of the University of California. Read here: WHO asks governments to protect young people from tobacco and electronic cigarettes
Access to vaccines, clean water, hygiene and infection control methods can prevent more than 750,000 associated deaths each year.
Regular cleaning and sterilization of healthcare facilities and materials, as well as better hand hygiene, can, for example, save up to 337,000 lives a year, while access to safe water and effective sanitation systems in communities could prevent an estimated 247,800. deaths. Read here: The US registers for the first time more daily cannabis users than alcohol consumers
The authors also propose extending pediatric vaccination campaigns, specifically pneumococcal preparations that help protect against pneumonia and meningitis, as well as introducing new ones, such as vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for pregnant women, which could save 181,500 lives a year.
