Buenos Aires, November 18 (NA) -- World Antibiotic Awareness Week is an initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) to alert about the threat posed by antimicrobial resistance and to promote the responsible use of these medicines.
"Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites change and develop mechanisms that allow them to resist the effect of medicines designed to eliminate them," according to a report accessed by the Argentine News Agency.
The specialist also added: "This phenomenon leads to longer hospital stays, more expensive treatments, and increases the risk that common medical procedures, such as surgeries or chemotherapies, become unsafe."
A study by the University of Washington School of Medicine estimates that deaths directly due to antimicrobial resistance will be nearly 2 million people by 2025, while associated deaths are expected to increase from 4.7 million in 2021 to over 8 million by 2050.
The slogan for the 2025 campaign, "Act now: protect our present, secure our future," focuses on the urgent need for joint action.
"Acting responsibly today is the best way to ensure a future where infections remain treatable and medicine continues to save lives," concluded the doctor.
Caring for the effectiveness of antibiotics is not just a task for health professionals: it requires the commitment of all of society.
Self-medicating, interrupting treatments early, or demanding antibiotics when they are not necessary are behaviors that contribute to the development of resistance.
Antibiotics should only be used under medical prescription, in the doses and for the time indicated, and never to treat viral infections like the flu or a cold, where they have no effect.
Maintaining good hand hygiene, ventilating spaces, completing the vaccination schedule, and adopting healthy habits are simple actions that reduce the need to use antibiotics," said the medical director of Ospedyc.
The expert also indicated: "Diet also plays an important role: a balanced diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, fiber, and fresh foods, helps strengthen the immune system and maintain a healthy intestinal microbiota, which acts as a natural barrier against various diseases."
Healthcare professionals have the responsibility to educate, inform, and act.
Spreading clear messages about the rational use of antibiotics, accompanying patients in their treatments, and promoting healthy habits are actions that can make a real difference.
Every decision counts: using an antibiotic without a medical prescription, saving 'leftovers' from a treatment, or stopping it early are practices that, although they may seem minor, put the effectiveness of these medicines at risk for everyone.
"Protecting the effectiveness of antibiotics means protecting life. As a result, infections that were once easily treatable can become serious or even fatal," explained the doctor.
Preventing infections is also part of the solution.
