Prevention, hygiene and vaccines, keys to stopping antibiotic resistance

Access to vaccines, drinking water, hygiene and infection control methods can prevent more than 750,000 deaths associated with Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) each year, according to a study published this Thursday in The Lancet.

The research, led by the University of Ibadan (Nigeria) and the University of California (USA), warns that the lack of health policies in this area could cause a constant increase in the number of deaths linked to AMR, whose The annual figure is 4.95 million, mostly from low- and middle-income countries.

The authors recall that antimicrobial resistance has more impact on children, the elderly and people with chronic diseases or who require surgical procedures.

The authorities emphasize that they must improve and extend existing methods to prevent infections by promoting, for example, hand hygiene, regular cleaning and sterilization of equipment in health centers, the availability of drinking water, sanitation systems and use of pediatric vaccines.

They estimate that bacterial infections cause 7.7 million deaths worldwide each year – one in eight -, making them the second cause of death globally.

Of that total, almost 5 million deaths are related to bacteria that have developed resistance to antibiotics.

Consequently, the study calls for efforts to expand access to existing antibiotics and innovative treatments, as well as to increase investment to develop new antibiotics, vaccines and diagnostics designed to be affordable and accessible worldwide.

“If these antibiotics are not provided, we risk failing to meet the sustainable development goals of the UN regarding child survival and healthy aging. “Effective antibiotics prolong life, reduce disabilities, limit healthcare costs, and enable other life-saving medical actions, such as surgery.”explains in a statement Iruka Okeke, from the University of Ibadan and co-author of the work.

However, antimicrobial resistance is increasing, says the expert, who attributes this, among other factors, to “inappropriate use” of antibiotics during the Covid-19 pandemic.

While the scientific community works on the development of new antibiotics and vaccines, the focus of global action in the fight against AMR must be on interventions with proven effectiveness in preventing infections.

“Preventing infections reduces antibiotic use and reduces ADR selection pressure so that drugs work when they are needed most,” says Joseph Lewnard, co-author of the research, from the University of California.

Regular cleaning and sterilization of healthcare facilities and materials, as well as better hand hygiene, can, for example, save up to 337,000 lives a year, while access to safe water and effective sanitation systems in communities could prevent an estimated 247,800. deaths.

The authors also propose extending pediatric vaccination campaigns, specifically pneumococcal preparations that help protect against pneumonia and meningitis, as well as introducing new ones, such as vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for pregnant women, which could save 181,500 lives a year.

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