# 5966
Short of seeing a Category 5 pandemic, I can think of no health threat that has a greater potential to threaten the general public than does the global rise in antibiotic resistant bacteria.
As Maryn McKenna so eloquently explained in her book Superbug: The Fatal Menace Of MRSA, not only are many of our older antibiotics losing their effectiveness, the number of replacement antibiotics under development is distressingly limited.
While it may sound alarmist, there are many scientists who fear that one day we may find ourselves facing a post-antibiotic world, where many of the infections we can treat today will no longer respond to the antibiotics we have remaining.
In April of this year, Margaret Chan – Director General of the World Health Organization – in a speech for World Health Day 2011, issued this stark warning:
In the absence of urgent corrective and protective actions, the world is heading towards a post-antibiotic era, in which many common infections will no longer have a cure and, once again, kill unabated.
Since much of this resistance has come about from inappropriate use of antibiotics (in humans, and on the farm), the immediate focus is on ways to curb their improper use.
This week the CDC is promoting their GET SMART about antibiotics campaign, while countries across Europe are promoting European Antibiotic Awareness Day tomorrow, November 18th.
Today, a round up of some antibiotic resistance resources for you to explore.
First stop, a short video from the CDC on the appropriate use of antibiotics.
The CDC has also introduced a number of new fact sheets and other promotional material for 2011 on antibiotic resistance.
Fact Sheets New 2011
- Antibiotics: Will they work when you really need them?
[412 KB, 2 ages]
- Delivering safe care for patients: all healthcare providers play a role
[503 KB, 2 pages]
- Antibiotic stewardship – the ultimate return on investment
[460 KB, 2 pages]
- Preserving antibiotics for the future
[420 KB, 2 pages]
- Resistance anywhere is resistance everywhere
[475 KB, 2 pages]
- Antibiotic use in long-term care facilities
[600 KB, 2 pages]
Across the pond, the ECDC has posted a short (8 minute) documentary on antibiotic resistance, and some short PSA announcements which can be viewed at this link.
You’ll find additional European initiatives and information on the European Antibiotics Awareness Day website.
In support of the CDC & ECDC awareness campaigns, Clinical Infectious Diseases and The Journal of Infectious Diseases have made a number of recent articles on antibiotic resistance freely available for the month of November.
Clinical Infectious Diseases articles:
Editorial commentary: Outpatient Antibiotic Use in the United States: Time to "Get Smarter"
Behavior Change Strategies to Influence Antimicrobial Prescribing in Acute Care: A Systematic Review
Rapid Diagnostics and Appropriate Antibiotic UseStrategies for Reduction in Duration of Antibiotic Use in Hospitalized Patients
The Journal of Infectious Diseases articles:
And for good measure, a sampling of some of my antibiotic resistance essays from the past year.
India: The NDM-1 Story Continues
CDDEP: Mapping Resistance
NDM-1: One Year Later
ECDC/EMEA: Joint Report On Resistant Bacteria
Carbapenemases Rising
Related Post:
- CHP: Review Of NDM-1 In Hong Kong
- A Health Crisis In Slow Motion
- India: Still Looking For A Policy On Antibiotics
- Study: Antimicrobial Prescribing Practices During The 2009 Pandemic
- NDM-1: A Matter Of Import
- Referral: McKenna Times Four
- HPA: Healthcare-Associated Infection (HCAI) Survey
- Chan: World Faces A `Post-Antibiotic Era’
- WHO: The Evolving Threat Of Antimicrobial Resistance
- South African Statement On NDM-1 Cases
- India: The NDM-1 Story Continues
- India Puts Antibiotic Regulations On Hold
- CDDEP: Mapping Resistance
- NDM-1: One Year Later
- ECDC: Defining Bacterial Drug Resistance
- Netherlands: Large Nosocomial KPC Outbreak
- Going, Going, Gonorrhea
- The Path Of Increased Resistance
- Referral: McKenna On Drug Resistant E. Coli And Chickens
- More On Hong Kong's Scarlet Fever Outbreak
- When Old Bacteria Learns New Tricks
- Study: Sub-Therapeutic Antibiotic Exposure Drives Resistance
- UK: `New MRSA’ Strain Spreading
- India Looks For (And Finds) NDM-1
- Do1Thing: A 12 Step Preparedness Program
- CDC FluView Week 52
- CDC Statement On This Year’s Flu Activity
- CDC HAN Update On Fungal Meningitis Outbreak
- Referral: McKenna On The Steroid-Linked Meningitis Outbreak
- NIVW 2012
- Early Flu Cases Begin To Emerge
- MMWR: Yosemite Hantavirus
- CDC Update Of Fungal Meningitis Cases
- A Health Crisis In Slow Motion
- UK: Norovirus Season Starts Early
- MMWR: Carbon Monoxide Exposures Related To Hurricane Sandy
- Peru: Alert For Bubonic Plague In Ascope Region
- CDC HAN Advisory: Additional NECC Products Found Contaminated
- CDC: Laboratory Test Results From Meningitis Outbreak
- FDA Statement On Conditions Reported At NECC Facility
- CDC Fungal Meningitis Update – Oct. 26th
- Preparing For After The Storm Passes
- The UK’s Whooping Cough Outbreak
- CDC HAN Advisory & Updates On Fungal Meningitis
- CDC Fungal Meningitis Update – Oct 22nd
- CDC Fungal Meningitis Update – Oct 19th
- CDC Fungal Meningitis Update – Oct 18th
- Detailed Report On Fatal Meningitis Case
- CDC Fungal Meningitis Update – Oct 17th
- ECDC: Multidrug Resistant Infections Increasing In Europe
- CHP: Review Of NDM-1 In Hong Kong
- Referral: McKenna On Resistant Gonorrhea
- Study: Antimicrobial Prescribing Practices During The 2009 Pandemic
- ECDC Response Plan To Multi-Drug Resistant Gonorrhea
- WHO: Urgent Action Needed On Resistant Gonorrhea
- Referral: McKenna Times Four
- HPA: Healthcare-Associated Infection (HCAI) Survey
- FDA Statement On Azithromycin & Cardiovascular Risks
- NEJM: Cardiovascular Risks Of Taking Azithromycin
- Video: Maryn McKenna On Antibiotic Resistance
- ECDC Comment On Drug Resistant TB In India
- CDDEP: Mapping Resistance
- NDM-1: One Year Later
- The Global Spread Of Drug Resistant Salmonella
- Study: Prior Antibiotic Use & MRSA In Children
- ECDC: Defining Bacterial Drug Resistance
- IDSA: Educational Guidelines Lower Antibiotic Use
- Going, Going, Gonorrhea
- The Path Of Increased Resistance
- Updating Hong Kong’s Scarlet Fever Outbreak
- When Old Bacteria Learns New Tricks
- Study: Sub-Therapeutic Antibiotic Exposure Drives Resistance
- UK: `New MRSA’ Strain Spreading
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