AMR Alliance Rwanda’s Post

Today is the European Antibiotic Awareness Day. It’s a good moment to recall the massive health threat of anti-microbial resistance and how best to tackle it. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) causes 35 000 deaths in the EU every year. By 2050, it could contribute to over 200 million deaths (directly or indirectly) globally. Without urgent action, we are facing a grim future where antibiotics no longer work. The EU has put AMR at the heart of its One Health policy making for many years, including with: 🎯 Targets to monitor antibiotic consumption and AMR infections in humans, 🐮 Rules to limit the use of antibiotics in farm animals and prohibit their use as growth-promotors, 💧 Environmental controls to monitor antibiotic residues in water and soil, 🔬 Major investment in research and development, including for the development of novel antibiotics, 👛 #EU4Health funding to support Member States’ actions against AMR, 💪 An active stance internationally, which contributed to the successful UNGA Declaration on AMR this year. The fight against anti-microbial resistance is not only a matter of policy though. Each one of us has a role to play – including responsible use of antibiotics and basic hygiene and infection prevention measures. Our new awareness raising campaign #BeatTheBug on the Fortnite platform aims to encourage young people to play their part. Check it out 👉 https://lnkd.in/eZCdh_Pi More on our action against AMR: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ee8USSx3 #EAAD #OneHealth #AMR

🌍 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) has just ended, but the critical message it carries remains as relevant as ever. 💊 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): A Global Threat AMR occurs when microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist the drugs designed to eliminate them. This isn’t just a medical issue, it’s a challenge that threatens global health, food security, and economic stability. 📌Did you know? 1. By 2050, AMR could cause 10 million deaths annually, surpassing cancer as a leading cause of death. 2. Routine procedures like C-sections or joint replacements could become dangerous due to untreatable infections. 3. The global economy stands to lose trillions if we fail to address AMR effectively. 🚨 Why Does AMR Happen? 1. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics in humans, animals, and agriculture. 2. Poor infection prevention and control practices. Limited development of new antimicrobial medicines. 💡 What Can We Do? 1. Educate and Advocate: Share information about AMR with your networks to increase awareness. 2. Use Antimicrobials Responsibly: Take antibiotics only when prescribed and complete the full course. Avoid demanding antibiotics for viral infections like colds or flu. 3.Strengthen Policies: Advocate for robust antimicrobial stewardship programs in healthcare and agriculture. 4.Practice Good Hygiene: Simple actions like handwashing can prevent infections, reducing the need for antibiotics in the first place. ✨ The Way Forward📐⏩ Tackling AMR requires collective action. It’s not just about what healthcare professionals can do but also what we, as individuals, can contribute. From patients to policymakers, we all have a role to play in preserving the effectiveness of life-saving medicines. The end of WAA week is a reminder that the work doesn’t stop here. Let’s commit to being part of the solution. #antimicrobialresistance #worldantimicrobialawarenessweek #publichealth #primaryhealthcare

📚 Today's #MondayRead, "Antimicrobial resistance and the great divide: Inequity in priorities and agendas between the Global North and the Global South threatens global mitigation of antimicrobial resistance", highlights the need to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) and their unique challenges. 📊 Disparities in resources, sanitation, and healthcare systems are accelerating the spread of AMR in these regions, with significant global implications. Despite this, the current focus remains heavily on R&D for new antibiotics in higher-income regions, while essential infection prevention measures in LMICs receive insufficient attention. 💡 To effectively mitigate AMR, it's vital to address the context-specific conditions in LMICs and ensure that no country is left behind. Strengthening healthcare infrastructure and prioritizing local needs can help close the gap and enhance global AMR mitigation efforts. Read more here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dTer_8-Q Marc Mendelson Ramanan Laxminarayan Direk Limmathurotsakul Sam Kariuki Martha Gyansa-Lutterodt Esmita Charani Dr Sanjeev Singh Kamini Walia Ana C Gales Prof Mirfin Mpundu #AMR #GlobalHealth #LMICs #InfectionPrevention #HealthEquity

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): A Looming Threat Antibiotic resistance has emerged as one of the most critical public health challenges of our time. According to the data from Bilal et al. (BMC Infectious Diseases) and the WHO in 2023, Asia is witnessing a 70% surge in antibiotic resistance. This rapidly increasing rate poses a severe threat not just locally but on a global scale, endangering the effectiveness of treatments and leading to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and increased mortality. 🌏 Asia as a Crucial Battleground The fact that such a high percentage of antibiotic resistance originates in Asia underscores the complex healthcare, socioeconomic, and regulatory dynamics in the region. High population density, unregulated access to antibiotics, and variable healthcare standards contribute significantly to this crisis. Targeted policies, awareness campaigns, and stricter regulations are needed to contain and reverse this trend. 💊 The Global Repercussions Antibiotic resistance is not a problem confined to a single continent—it is a shared global hazard. Resistant pathogens know no borders, posing risks to international health security, trade, and travel. Collaboration, innovative research, and equitable healthcare initiatives are essential in curbing the spread of AMR globally. 🔍 Call to Action Awareness and proactive measures can make a difference. Stakeholders across healthcare sectors, policymakers, and the public must come together to reduce overuse, improve infection control, and promote stewardship programs. Education and community engagement at all levels will be key to combatting this growing threat. References: 01. Bilal et al. BMC Infectious Diseases (2021) 21:244 https://lnkd.in/dPtA3CYC  02. WHO, Antimicrobial resistance, 21 November 2023 #AntimicrobialResistance #GlobalHealth #Healthcare #InfectiousDiseases #PublicHealth #Antibiotics #Microbiology #HealthPolicy #Asia #HealthAwareness #WHO #AMR #SustainableHealthcare

What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR)? Read our article ‘The silent threat: Antimicrobial resistance and its global impact’ to find out what AMR is, the global impacts of AMR and what the UK is doing to tackle the crisis: https://lnkd.in/eSfVt_Jb Our programme ‘Defending Our Health: Unravelling Antimicrobial Resistance’, launching in September 2024, will explore the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, the impact on Sustainable Development Goals, the One Health approach, the development of new antibiotics, infection prevention and control. #AMRAwareness #AntimicrobialResistance

Antibiotic Resistance in Africa This Friday, the Africa Research and Impact Network is convening a critical discussion on the #escalating issue of #antibiotic resistance in Africa. The #misuse and #overuse of antibiotics, coupled with weak #regulations and inadequate infection #control practices, are creating a public health #crisis. Common bacterial diseases like #tuberculosis and #MRSA are becoming increasingly #resistant to #traditional antibiotics, leaving healthcare providers with #limited treatment #options and jeopardizing patient #outcomes. The consequences of antibiotic resistance are severe, leading to longer #illnesses, increased healthcare #costs, and even #death. Join us this Friday, June 15th, from 3 PM to 4:30 PM EAT as we explore solutions to address this challenge. https://bit.ly/3QgTqVN #PublicHealth  #InfectiousDiseases #ARINFridayReviews

An interesting read to start the week on how to improve AMR outcomes in LMIC territories. #thefungalthreat #fungalpathogens #antifungalresistance

“Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest threats to public health." "I am really concerned about the challenges that the new generation will face when it comes to the treatment of infections, being mild or serious,” says Jenny Glaesener, coordinator of the National Antibiotic Plan from the Directorate of Health, Ministry of Health and Social Security, Luxembourg, and a mother of three. “Our National Antibiotic Plan (2018- 2024) tracks antibiotic resistance through the study of invasive pathogens collected in hospital settings. Resistance is also monitored in food- borne and waterborne diseases." "In addition to the surveillance of human and animal consumption of antibiotics, and of AMR and antibiotic residues in farms and environmental settings, the National Antibiotic Plan focuses on raising awareness of antibiotic use, vaccination, infection prevention and hygiene measures in hospital settings, farms and the community.” “This year, AMR and antibiotics consumption in Luxembourg ranked below the European Union average, but still high compared to other countries. There is much work to be done across the human, animal and environmental sectors. A new ambitious National Action Plan will be published in 2025 and will include specific result-oriented actions to respond to the global health threat of AMR.” #WHOEuro is sharing #Stories_of_AMR throughout the year, from countries across the European Region to raise awareness about the serious impact of #AMR. Let’s prevent #AMR together. #AMRAwareness; #onehealth; #saveantibiotics; #handlewithcare; #HealthForAll

This is highly worrisome.

“Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest threats to public health. I am really concerned about the challenges that the new generation will face when it comes to the treatment of infections, being mild or serious” says Jenny Glaesener, a mother of three and the coordinator of Luxembourg’s National Antibiotic Plan from the Directorate of Health, Ministry of Health and Social Security. “Our National Antibiotic Plan (2018- 2024) tracks antibiotic resistance through the study of invasive pathogens collected in hospital settings. Resistance is also monitored in foodborne and waterborne diseases. In addition to the surveillance of human and animal consumption of antibiotics, and of AMR and antibiotic residues in farms and environmental settings, the National Antibiotic Plan focuses on raising awareness of antibiotic use, vaccination, infection prevention and hygiene measures in hospital settings, farms and the community.” “This year, AMR and antibiotics consumption in Luxembourg ranked below the European Union average, but still high compared to other countries. There is much work to be done across the human, animal and environment sectors. A new ambitious National Action Plan will be published in 2025 and will include specific result-oriented actions to respond to the global health threat of AMR.” #WHOEuro is sharing #Stories_of_AMR throughout the year, from countries across the European Region to raise awareness about the serious impact of #AMR. Let’s prevent #AMR together. #AMRAwareness; #onehealth; #saveantibiotics; #handlewithcare; #HealthForAll