Antibiotic resistance has taken a back seat recently because of the more obvious threat of Covid -19. But superbugs becoming resistant to drugs aren’t something the world can afford to forget, as studies have predicted that in around 30 years antibiotic resistance will kill more people worldwide than cancer.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top ten threats to global health today, driven by the misuse or overuse of antimicrobials such as antibiotics. However, its seriousness has been greatly overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when infection-causing bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites build up immunity to the medications intended to kill them and continue to multiply. While antimicrobial medications are important to fight infections and reduce mortality rates, antimicrobial resistance increases naturally when the medication is used, misused, or taken unnecessarily - adding to the already problematic global plight.

 

Guest on the line -Dr Ramokone Maphoto –Clinical Virologist