WAAW takes place from 18 to 24 November each year and is led globally by the World Health Organization (WHO). It aims to increase awareness of global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and to encourage the public and health workers to take action to avoid the further emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections, so that medicines like antibiotics remain effective.
AMR occurs when medicines used to fight infections lose their effectiveness because the microorganisms they target – whether bacteria, fungi, viruses or parasites – have evolved and are no longer affected by antimicrobial medications, making infections harder to treat. In 2019, AMR was directly responsible for around 1.27 million deaths globally.
The delivery of modern medicine to our NHS patients is reliant on access to effective antimicrobials to help prevent and treat infection. In the future, without effective antimicrobials, normally uncomplicated infections and procedures, such a caesarean section or knee replacement could be life threatening. To preserve the efficacy of these critical medicines, we need to act together.
Preservation starts with good infection prevention (IPC). Vaccination programmes not only protect against disease and the risk of life-threatening illness, they also reduce the need for antimicrobials to treat secondary infections caused by the disease. It is always safer to prevent rather than cure.
Tackling AMR is however not just a healthcare concern. The government addresses this in its National Action Plan Confronting antimicrobial resistance 2024 to 2029 – GOV.UK by describing the work across ‘all sectors’, this includes human health and social care, animal health, agriculture, food production and the environment.
Across north east London we are working to reduce AMR through three key measures.
Firstly, we aim to avoid antimicrobials where possible, encouraging prevention and reducing the public expectation around medicines like antibiotics, for example raising awareness that antibiotics don’t work on viruses like colds and flu.
We are also working to reduce exposure, this means we assess each patient and only prescribe medicines for a course that is absolutely necessary, for the shortest possible course length.
Finally, we are also working at improving infection management, making sure that possible infections are investigated, monitored and reviewed in a timely way and ensuring the best medicines and treatment are provided for each patient depending on their needs.
You can find out how to become an Antibiotic Guardian and choose one simple pledge about how you’ll make better use of antibiotics and help save these vital medicines from becoming obsolete. Or, if you want to help future generations to understand the risks of AMR, the e-bug programme is an initiative seeking to educate the future generation of children about this health threat. Information and activities are available for educators to build knowledge around microbes, disease, hygiene, vaccination and AMR.
The further rise of AMR and its devastating consequences means we must act now, together and continue to learn and understand AMR so we can help to preserve the effectiveness of these life-saving medicines.
Dr Raliat Onatade
Chief Pharmacist and Director of Medicines and Pharmacy – NHS North East London
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