THE world is full of scary stories.
And one of the scariest is the threat of diseases evolving defences faster than medical science can make them.
Exploring this problem is World Antibiotics Week, which starts today and ends on 18 November. It is used to educate the public about antibiotics use and infection prevention.
The World Health Organisation developed a range of media to inform the public about antibiotic resistance.
Dr Dean Gopalan, president of the Critical Care Society of SA and University of KZN critical care head, highlighted the need to employ multiple strategies to minimise antibiotic resistance.
“Doctors need to limit antibiotic prescriptions. Uncontrolled antibiotic abuse has bred antibiotic resistance germs that are immune to them – superbugs.”
Multi-drug resistant and extremely drug resistance tuberculosis are antibiotic resistance diseases which not only affect more than 450 000 South Africans every year but have spread beyond our borders, too.
Fighting antibiotic resistance
BugWise is a new app developed by Pharma Dynamics to limit the threat of antibiotic resistance diseases, but it needs the help of doctors and patients alike.
“The infectious superbug Klebsiella claimed the lives of six babies at Thelle Mogoerane Hospital in Vosloorus recently.
“It showed everyone how arrogant antibiotics have made us – we forgot how dangerous diseases actually are and how quickly they spread.”
The BugWise app lets doctors access information and guidelines on medicine and its use. It also has symptom checklist and determines the movement of diseases in and out of various areas.
For more info, visit www.who.int/campaigns/world-antibiotic-awareness-week/en/
