Pfizer helps to prevent and combat the global public health threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
Have you seen this notice whenever you go
to a drugstore, fact is there’s good reason why every drugstore in the country
put up this sign. In a world where it easy to buy medicines just like buying a
candy from a store, there’s a threat we need to be aware and it is a threat
much bigger than we thought of - the Threat
of Antimicrobial Resistance.
Pfizer Philippines, in recognition of
World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW)
2018, reaffirms its commitment to working with
industry partners, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to Pfizer helps to
prevent and combat the global public health threat of antimicrobial resistance
(AMR).
AMR currently
accounts for 700,000 fatalities per year globally.[i]Experts agree that if no action is
taken, AMR is estimated to result in approximately 10 million deaths globally
each year by 2050.1
AMR can affect
anyone, of any age, in any country.2 It occurs when pathogens change and find ways to
resist the effects of antibiotics. The pathogens survive, grow, and spread
their resistance.1 This process of adaptation leads to AMR.1
While becoming resistant to medications is part of the natural
evolution of microorganisms, the resistance is facilitated and becomes even
worse when antibiotics are inappropriately used.2 Common examples
would be using antibiotics to treat a simple cold or flu, or not following the
doctor’s order of finishing the course of therapy within a given timeframe.
If no solution is found, the consequences of AMR could
be devastating. Minor
infections and injuries could become life-threating, and serious infections
such as pneumonia could become impossible to treat.1, 2 Further, many
routine medical procedures could be too risky to perform because of the risk of
becoming infected by a multi-drug resistant pathogenwhile in the hospital.1
Addressing the problem
together
Collaboration is
needed to fight antimicrobial resistance – from doctors who guide patients in
their journey toward better health and prescribe them with the right
antibiotics, to pharmacists who are in a unique position to encourage prudent
use of these treatments, to the government which has the ability to push for
policies that strengthen antibiotic stewardship programs nationwide, and to the
patients who are responsible for taking the right antibiotics at the right dose
and at the right time.
On the need to reach more Filipinos and inform them
of the danger of inappropriate antibiotic use, Dr. Mario Panaligan, President
of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID),
says, “Since their discovery, antibiotics have indeed served as the cornerstone
of modern medicine. However, when they are misused or mishandled, the tendency
is that organisms eventually become immune to its effects. This then results to
antimicrobial resistance, which not many are aware of and that’s where the
problem lies.”
Dispensing of antibiotics in drugstores has also
become more stringent in recent years due to the health threats posed by AMR.
Dr. Yolanda Robles, President of the Philippine Pharmacists Association, adds
that pharmacists are instrumental in informing and reminding patients to take
their antibiotics responsiblyat the pharmacy level, and they are working hand
in hand with the government and other healthcare organizations to address the
alarming situation of drug-resistant infections.
The Philippine government is also doing its part in addressingAMR.
“There are increasing efforts by the government – we have ‘The Philippine
Action Plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance: One Health Approach’ and the
Manual of Procedures for Implementing Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs in
Hospitals,” sharesDr. Regina Berba, who was a consultant for the Department of
Health’s National Steering Committee of Antimicrobial Stewardship Program. “The
government’s commitment to fighting AMR is important as they have the ability
to shape and better our healthcare landscape.”
In addition to the efforts being undertaken by the
infectious disease community, there are preventive measures that Filipino
patients can take to mitigate AMR.
A patient taking antibiotics when not prescribed by
the doctor can have dire consequences. Unknown to most, antibiotics – which
target bacteria – are ineffective in treating the common cold, which is most
often caused by a virus.3 When prescribed
an antibiotic, it is essential to take it exactly as instructed by the doctor2
and to finish the course of medication without missing any doses, even when the
patient already starts to feel better. Prevention is also important. Keep
vaccinations up to date, wash hands regularly, and prepare food hygienically.2
As for pharmaceutical companies, boosting drug
research and development is vital. Pfizer, one of the leading global providers
of anti-infective medicines, is committed to expanding its diverse portfolio of
antibiotics to address AMR.4 Pfizer also supports education efforts
for both healthcare professionals and the general public, and creates
innovative AMR surveillance tools such as the Antimicrobial Testing Leadership
and Surveillance (ATLAS) database which provides physicians and the global
health community with free access to critical data on the efficacy of various
antibiotic treatments and emerging resistance patterns in more than 60
countries worldwide.5
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