H.E. Deputy Executive Director of Medical Services in the Western Region, Dr. Issam Al Zimti launched the activities of Bacterial Resistance to Antibiotics Awareness Week which was organized by the Department of Infection Prevention and Control.
Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Clinical Pharmacist, Infectious Diseases, Dr. Noor Shamas delivered a speech in which she clarified that antibiotics are drugs used to treat diseases caused by bacterial infections only, and antibiotics are the most misused drugs . Also, she mentioned that there is a program that most hospitals are seeking to launch and implement that in order to regulate the use of antimicrobials, in addition to regulating antibiotics prescription in order to improve their benefits and ensure proper use in order to reduce the bacterial resistance. In addition, one of the most important objectives of this program is to ensure prescribing the correct antibiotic with the right dose and the course of treatment. The benefits of this program are not limited to improving bacterial infections treatment , but also limiting the spread of resistant bacterial infections and antibiotic resistant bacterial.
Moreover, she pointed out the most important instructions that can control the spread of antibiotic resistance:
Using antibiotics only by a doctor’s prescription.
Complying with the doctor’s and pharmacist’s instructions about how to use the antibiotic, such as: the number of doses and for hoe long.
Not to stop taking the antibiotic before the end of the course treatment, even if the patient feels better.
Not to give the remaining antibiotics to another person even if he/she shows the same symptoms.
after that, the Co-executive Director of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Asim Al Sa’aedi clarified that misusing antibiotics is called resistance, as bacteria is considered a creature which is capable of resisting the effect of their antibiotics, by changing some of their characteristics subsequently the antibiotic will be unable to treat this bacterial diseases because of its mutation to a resistant bacteria. He also pointed out that the bacterial resistance is considered one of the biggest health problems worldwide, which requires intervention of the concerned authorities and cooperations among community members to reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics , thus limiting the spread of resistance.
Moreover, Dr. Al Sa’aedi said that the resistance is a natural biological phenomenon but how fast antimicrobial resistance occurs is due to the excessive or misuse of drugs. One of the main reasons that significantly contributes to increasing bacterial resistance rate is the misuse of antibiotics, here are some examples of antibiotics misuses:
Excessive use of antibiotics: the overuse of antibiotics by getting them without medical prescription significantly contributes to increasing the resistance rate .
Not following the health care provider’s instructions: such as not taking the antibiotic doses regularly or not taking the it abruptly when feeling better before completing the treatment course specified by the doctor.
Poor infection control in hospitals.
Using antibiotics for non-bacterial infections such as colds and flu, which are caused by viral infection that do not require an antibiotic. In such cases or others, the doctor alone who decides whether the patient needs an antibiotic or not.
The repeated use of antibiotics.
Using the antibiotics inappropriately in livestock.
Then Dr. Al Zmeti pointed out that the MNG-HA seeks through its academic, treatment, preventive, and research programs to achieve a unique integration which improves the service provided to patients to the highest level of specialized and professional standards as well as adhering to the international standards of medical care which enabled the MNG-HA to be one of the pioneering health, academic and research institutions.
In addition, H.E. added that awareness is a local and global strategy given a special attention by MNG-HA. Last but not least, he stressed that we should all take care of this awareness week which was organized by the Department of Infection Prevention and Control in order to preserve the public health and avoid antibiotics misuse.
It is worth to mention that the organizing committee held an awareness exhibition in collaboration with some internal departments and external parties to raise the patients and their families’ awareness levels in regards to this universal problem.