Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a pressing public health threat that can affect anyone globally. The European Self-Care Industry is ready to play its role to protect public health and contribute to the sustainability of European healthcare systems.
What is antimicrobial resistance?
Antimicrobial resistance (also referred to as “AMR” or “antibiotic resistance”) occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites evolve in ways that render ineffective the medications used to treat the illnesses they cause.
Antimicrobial resistance is a natural phenomenon. However, its occurrence can accelerate because of wrong actions or decisions, such as the inappropriate use of antibiotics (misuse, overuse or sharing of medication), the accidental release into the environment and the improper disposal of unused or expired antibiotics.
With antimicrobial resistance, it is the bacteria that become resistant to antibiotics, not the infected person or animal. When microorganisms become multi-resistant, it means that they have become resistant to most common antimicrobials. In that case, they are often referred to as “superbugs”.
Superbugs, an invisible enemy with tangible impact
The unbridled development of superbugs is a major concern because it means that common bacterial infections may soon become untreatable with the current existing medication. A resistant infection may kill, spread to others and impose huge costs to individuals and society.
In 2018, the ECDC reported that about 33 000 people die each year from an infection due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This is the equivalent of a village being wiped off the map! The burden of antibiotic-resistant infections in Europe is comparable to that of influenza, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS combined.
According to the OECD, antimicrobial resistance is already a major public health tragedy that compromises the sustainability of health systems and poses the threat of a post-antibiotic era in the future.
Anyone can be affected by an antibiotic-resistant infection, regardless of their age, social status or the place they live in. The good news is that we can all do something about it! This starts from our actions as a person to our actions as a professional, whether we are a doctor, a nurse, a pharmacist, a veterinarian, a farmer and/or a policymaker.
The Self-Care Industry is committed to #KeepAntibioticsWorking
The Self-Care Industry is ready to play its role in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. We do so by helping to avoid the need for antibiotics in the first place, providing products that help prevent infections (e.g., hand sanitisers) and relieve symptoms of common winter illnesses, like flu or cold, against which antibiotics are not effective. The use of self-care products contributes significantly to maintaining good health and helps cope with mild symptoms of seasonal illnesses that are often wrongly perceived as treatable by antibiotics.
We also invest in public awareness campaigns on the correct disposal of medicines and in collection systems for unused or expired medicines. AESGP is a long-standing partner of the #MedsDisposal campaign, a joint initiative that raises awareness of the appropriate disposal of medicines, including antibiotics, in Europe. An important feature of the project is an interactive map of Europe with direct links to the official websites providing information on the appropriate way of disposing of medicines in each country. (To know more about our work on environmental issues, click here.)
And since 2018, AESGP is a proud partner of the European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD), a European public health initiative led by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and celebrated each year on 18 November to raise awareness of antibiotic resistance.
Read our Position Paper on AMRHealth literacy will give antimicrobial resistance no chance
Infections such as bronchitis, sore throat, flu and sinusitis are often cited as reasons for taking antibiotics.
Key facts:
- Most of these respiratory infections are caused by viruses.
- Antibiotics act on bacteria. They don’t work against viruses.
Improving public knowledge and health literacy is an important step to keep antibiotics working. According to the 2018 Eurobarometer, 57% of Europeans are not aware that antibiotics are ineffective against viruses and 44% do not know that antibiotics are not effective against cold and flu. This is an appalling reality considering that up to 80% of common winter illnesses are caused by viruses and therefore do not require any treatment by antibiotics.
Often in partnership with public institutions and healthcare professionals, members of AESGP have developed public health and health literacy campaigns at the national level to educate citizens on the appropriate management of common winter illnesses and on infection prevention. Initiatives like the IPHA-IPU campaign “Be Well This Winter” or the APIFARMA program “Tratar de Mim” are just a few examples.