while surgery improves

[pellicle]

Our enemies develop too, I wonder if this as yet shows in the surgical stats?

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs194/en/

Why is antimicrobial resistance a global concern?

AMR kills
Infections caused by resistant microorganisms often fail to respond to the standard treatment, resulting in prolonged illness and greater risk of death. The death rate for patients with serious infections treated in hospitals is about twice that in patients with infections caused by non-resistant bacteria.

AMR hampers the control of infectious diseases
AMR reduces the effectiveness of treatment, thus patients remain infectious for a longer time, increasing the risk of spreading resistant microorganisms to others.

AMR threatens a return to the pre-antibiotic era
Many infectious diseases risk becoming untreatable and uncontrollable, which could derail the progress made towards reaching the targets of the health-related United Nations Millennium Development Goals set for 2015.

AMR increases the costs of health care
When infections become resistant to first-line medicines, more expensive therapies must be used. The longer duration of illness and treatment, often in hospitals, increases health-care costs and the economic burden to families and societies.

 

[Midpack]

It is a serious problem. And one of its causes is antibiotic abuse. For instance, at least in my country (Argentina), it is fairly common to self medicate with amoxicilin for say a sore throat, without knowing for sure whether the infection (if any!) is indeed viral or bacterial...

 

[Agian]

That happens everywhere.

 

[pellicle]

When I self medicate I understand the importance of leaving behind resistant strains, that's why I have kept up my wine intake consistently .-)

 

[clay_from_nj]

I did hear a recent news story quoting some study showing that we shouldn't be using sanitizer and anti-bacterial cleansers, when soap and water is quite effective at killing bacteria and doesn't contribute to AMR. Apparently the microbes just aren't able to become resistant to the old simple standbys like soap, alcohol (there ya' go pellicle!), iodine, etc.

 

[epstns]

When I self medicate I understand the importance of leaving behind resistant strains, that's why I have kept up my wine intake consistently .-)

Well, mate, I prefer a nice, smooth single malt. . . poured liberally into rather than onto the patient.