World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW)

Why is AMR increasing?

Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals and plants

Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals and plants are the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant infections. Poor medical prescribing practices and patient adherence to treatment also contribute. For example, antibiotics kill bacteria, but they cannot kill viral infections like colds and flu. Often they are incorrectly prescribed for those illnesses, or taken without proper medical oversight. Antibiotics are also commonly overused in farm animals and agriculture. 

Lack of access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for both humans and animals

Lack of clean water and sanitation in healthcare facilities, farms and community settings and inadequate infection prevention and control promotes the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections.

COVID-19

The misuse of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to accelerated emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. COVID-19 is caused by a virus, not by a bacteria and therefore antibiotics should not be used to prevent or treat viral infections, unless bacterial infections are also present.

(Source: WHO website)

The differences between bacteria and viruses - Dr Tina Joshi, Lecturer in Molecular Microbiology

"While both bacteria and viruses are capable of causing infections, there are some fundamental differences between the two microorganisms.

Did you know that viruses do not have their own cell machinery? This means that they use the host’s cell to survive and replicate (reproduce). For example, viruses that infect humans will enter the human and replicate in specific cells that they target. The virus will enter those human cells and “tell” the cell machinery to make more virus copies! This is almost like a “hijacking” of the cell. The cell then produces virus parts like proteins, RNA and DNA, which are bought together and thus more copies of the virus are made. Eventually these copies/new viruses break out of the human cell and go on to infect new host cells. Viruses cannot multiply or survive for long without using a living host.

Viruses also have a different structure to bacteria - they are made up of proteins, glycoproteins and nucleic acids only. Bacteria have their own cell wall, have their own cellular content and are able to reproduce and survive by themselves. Viruses are very tiny compared to bacteria- approximately 1000 times smaller (in nanometres - nm) whereas bacteria are measured in micrometres (µm). 

Finally, antibiotics will kill or damage bacteria only. Antiviral drugs are needed to combat viruses, and antivirals are usually designed to target and stop the virus replication process.”