Antimicrobial medicines are different types of drugs that can be grouped according to the microorganisms they treat. For example:
- 💊Antifungals kill fungi
- 💊Antibiotics are used for bacteria,
- 💊Antivirals treat viruses
- 💊Antiparasitic drugs kill parasites.
We rely on these medicines for a wide range of conditions and diseases including for cancer treatment, to prevent infections: skin , GIT, respiratory, reproductive, urinary, systemic infections etc
CAUSES OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE?
Antimicrobial Resistance occurs when the microrganisms ( viruses, bacteria ,fungi and protozoa) develop survival mechanisms which resist the effect of antimicrobial medicines. This is commonly associated with drug overuse, misuse: especially underdose, wrong prescription etc.
An example of misuse is when a specific class of antimicrobials know as an antibiotic is prescribed for the common cold or flu while the flu or the common cold are not caused by bacteria but rather viruses.
SLOW DOWN ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
Microbes are part of nature and live all around us, some of them even live harmoniously inside our body, but every now and again a bad one can cause an infection or disease. One of the most important things we can do besides reducing the overuse and misuse of antimicrobial medicines is to practice good hand hygiene.
Understanding that different antimicrobial drugs treat different types of microorganisms help us understand why a particular type of drug like an antibiotic was not prescribed. This is why it is critical to seek the advice of a qualified health professional before using antimicrobials.
Education is empowering, but is it enough to change behaviour and ethic around drug usage?
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