Most of the colds and flus are caused by viruses that cannot be destroyed by antibiotics. Antibiotics do not decrease fever and do not ease symptoms, such as sneezing. The population should know that antibiotics must be administered only if they are prescribed by the doctor and the treatment should be fully completed, by following the indicated frequency, even if the patient feels well. It is banned using the antibiotic that remained from another cure, the health authorities stated in connection with the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, IPN reports.
In a news conference on November 19, Zinaida Bezverhni, secretary of state at the Ministry of Health, said that a number of events will be staged on the occasion of this week to inform the general public about the rational use of antibiotics according to the doctor’s prescription, including inter-sector communication, information and awareness-raising activities, such as online conferences, webinars, public discussions, radio and TV programs.
“Antimicrobial resistance is a major public health issue around the world. According to the WHO, antimicrobial resistance became worrisome. Alarming levels of resistance have been reported in countries of all income levels, with the result that common diseases are becoming untreatable, and lifesaving medical procedures riskier to perform. Drug-resistant diseases already cause at least 700,000 deaths globally a year, a figure that could increase to 10 million deaths globally per year by 2050 under the most alarming scenario if no action is taken,” stated the functionary.
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat.
World Antimicrobial Awareness Week is celebrated from 18-24 November every year. The 2021 theme, Spread Awareness, Stop Resistance, calls on stakeholders, policymakers, health care providers, and the general public to be Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness champions.
