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Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Becomes an International Priority

Our colleagues at the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) have published two excellent articles on the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance - a threat that can no longer be ignored.

From the article:

Once an Ignored Threat, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Becomes an International Priority

Antimicrobial resistance, a phenomenon in which microorganisms are able to survive antimicrobial treatment such that drugs become ineffective, is an ever-growing problem of international public health importance. Present everywhere in the world, drug-resistant parasites, bacteria, viruses, and fungi jeopardise the effective prevention and treatment of infections. Over the past several years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported an increase in drug-resistant HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis (TB), a development that threatens progress towards their elimination. Read the full article by clicking here.

They have also published a follow up article that focusses on this issue in Africa.

Combatting Drug Resistance in Africa

New stepwise framework aims to provide guidance for establishing sustainable surveillance programmes

Drug resistance impacts public health in a profound manner, leading to negative outcomes for patients and wasting valuable medicines on battles that cannot be won. Drug-resistant infections could cause 10 million deaths a year and cost up to $100 trillion a year by 2050. Health officials in Africa are moving forward a stepwise approach for monitoring drug resistance in order to address this growing threat. Read the full article by clicking here.

 

ASLM