Combatting a global health threat one dose at a time

With over 2.8 million cases and 35 000 fatalities each year in the United States¹, antibiotic-resistant infections, otherwise referred to as superbugs², are a top global threat that requires the urgent attention of all global health sectors³.

Dr Bha Ndungane-Tlakula, Country Medical Director at Pfizer South Africa, says that while antibiotics are a type of antimicrobial medication used to combat infections⁴ and are instrumental in saving lives⁵, antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria become immune to the medications designed to kill them⁶.

“Antibiotic resistance occurs naturally as antibiotics are used, and can affect anyone irrespective of age or gender³,” explains Dr Ndungane-Tlakula. “It is however accelerated when medical practitioners prescribe antimicrobial medications to patients unnecessarily, or when patients take the incorrect medication or doses or for the incorrect periods of time⁵.”

The threat is rapidly increasing through the misuse or overuse of the prescribed medication, with many infections becoming more difficult to treat as antibiotics become less effective³. This poses a challenge for healthcare professionals by limiting the available options to treat resistant bacterial infections⁷ and contributes to prolonged hospitalisation, increased medical costs, and higher rates of mortality³.

Dr Ndungane-Tlakula adds that it is imperative that antibiotics are used only when required to treat bacterial infections, and do not work on viruses, including the ones that cause colds, flu, or bronchitis⁸.

“The value of using antibiotics for bacterial infections outweighs potential transient side effects,” she says. “With inappropriate use and misuse, serious side effects can occur such as a rash, dizziness, nausea, yeast infections, and even Clostridioides difficile, an infection that causes serious diarrhoea that may potentially result in colon damage and even death⁸.”

To this end, Dr Ndungane-Tlakula suggests that health practitioners need to reconsider how antibiotics are prescribed and used, and that without behaviour changes, such as vaccinations and good hygiene practices, antibiotic resistance will remain a threat to public health³. There is a need for initiatives to protect the public from antibiotic resistance such as antibiotic stewardship programmes (ASPs). These have proven effective in improving patient care by ensuring that antibiotics are only prescribed when necessary and appropriate, and entail healthcare professionals prescribing the correct medication at the correct dosage and for the appropriate duration⁹.

The successful implementation of antibiotic stewardship programmes is evidenced by research published by the Infectious Diseases Society of America which reveals that antibiotic stewardship greatly improved patient outcomes and reduced the adverse effects of antibiotic consumption. It is best promoted by healthcare professionals who have undergone additional stewardship training¹⁰.

“Antibiotic resistance is of utmost concern since the emergence of the COVID-19 global pandemic, particularly now with an influx of infected patients being admitted to hospital,” explains Dr Ndungane-Tlakula. “Antibiotics do not combat COVID-19; however, with many patients expected to stay in hospital for longer, some may be increasingly prone to bacterial infections which may further exacerbate the antibiotic resistance challenge¹¹.  

Further, global research emphasises the urgency of the plight, insisting that if the matter of antibiotic resistance is not addressed soon, 10 million people may die as a result by the year 2050¹².

“While healthcare professionals need to monitor antibiotic prescriptions, the public can play a role in reducing the impact and spread of antibiotic resistance by only taking antibiotics when prescribed by a certified healthcare professional, not requesting them if not needed, never sharing or using antibiotics that may have been left over from a previous prescription, and preventing potential infections through good hygiene³,” concludes Dr Ndungane-Tlakula.

This post and content is sponsored, written and provided by Pfizer.