2023-07-18 12:09:00
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) refers to the ability of bacteria to survive despite the administration of drugs that inhibit or kill them (antibiotics). Antibiotic-resistant bacteria kill 100 people every day in Europe alone, and 800,000 people are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria every year. Korea is no exception to the problem of antibiotic resistance.
According to the Korea Food Communication Forum (KOFRUM) on the 18th, the European Council recently announced ‘Five reasons to care regarding antimicrobial resistance’.
The main cause is the misuse of antibiotics. In general, inappropriate use of antibiotics → bacteria become resistant to antibiotics → antibiotics become less effective → disease spreads more easily, and so on.
The first reason why antibiotic resistance should not be taken lightly is that in Europe alone, regarding 800,000 people are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria each year. This can lead to pneumonia, bloodstream and intra-abdominal infections. According to the OECD, 70% of infections occur in healthcare settings. Antibiotic resistance can lead to fatal outcomes during surgery, transplantation, and intensive treatment for people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients. Children under 12 months of age and the elderly over 70 are most vulnerable to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Men are more likely than women to be infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Second, 100 people died every day in Europe in 2020 due to antibiotic resistance. Some infections that were treatable in the past are difficult or even impossible to treat. As antibiotic resistance becomes more severe, small cuts and minor infections or surgeries can become life-threatening. Greece and Italy have the highest death rates due to antibiotic resistance in Europe.
Third, antibiotic resistance can be a problem for animals, food, plants and the environment. Antibiotics are also used to treat livestock, aquaculture and companion animals. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can also exist in soil, water, and plants.
Fourth, the fight once morest antibiotic-resistant bacteria requires significant medical costs. The estimated cost of combating antibiotic resistance to the European health system is 1.1 billion euros per year. When a patient’s infected bacteria do not respond to first-line antibiotic treatment (the most effective and safest treatment option for patients), doctors and other healthcare professionals have no choice but to choose more expensive alternatives, such as second-line and tertiary antibiotics (the last available treatment option). . Infectious complications or illness, or longer treatment periods, require longer hospitalizations and higher treatment costs.
Fifth, antibiotic resistance puts a tremendous burden on the economy. Long-term illness and death from antibiotic-resistant bacteria have a direct negative impact on the economy. Antibiotic resistance can hinder trade in livestock and livestock products because it affects livestock health and welfare, and consequently productivity. Reporter Yoon Ji-soo
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