United States: A new warning has been issued by the health experts across the globe, after witnessing unmeasurable increase in the number of superbugs resistance to current drugs. Recently, a fresh warning was given by the former chief medical officer of England – Prof Dame Sally Davies, who underlined that following such surge, there are high possibility that COVID-19 pandemic will “look minor”.
The statement was given by the expert after she lost her goddaughter to an untreatable infection. She also highlighted that if the world fails to tackle the problem within the next decade, the issue could become “more acute” as compared to climate change. Furthermore, she noted that during the current times, drug-resistant infections are responsible for killing around 1.2 million people annually.
While addressing the concern, she was quoted saying, “It looks like a lot of people with untreatable infections, and we would have to move to isolate people who were untreatable in order not to infect their families and communities. So it’s a really disastrous picture. It would make some of Covid look minor,” according to The Guardian.
The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) signified a critical juncture where conventional remedies become ineffectual against certain infections, stemming from bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Exposure to medicinal compounds fosters the evolution of microbial resilience, with the overutilization of substances like antibiotics hastening this evolutionary process.
Should resistance become widespread, it could render many contemporary medical practices perilous, impacting procedures such as cesarean sections, cancer therapies, and organ transplants.
Expressing deep concern, Davies voiced apprehension, stating, “If substantial progress isn’t made within the forthcoming decade, my apprehensions escalate.” She highlighted the distinction between AMR and typical viral infections, emphasizing that while viruses tend to subside due to herd immunity, the trajectory of AMR lacks such resolution, according to the reports by The Guardian.
Recent initiatives by the UK government, including a national action plan on AMR, underscore the gravity of the situation. The plan aims to curtail antimicrobial usage in both human and animal domains, bolster surveillance of drug-resistant infections, and incentivize research and development of novel therapeutics.
The personal impact of AMR struck Davies profoundly upon the loss of her goddaughter, Emily Hoyle, to a drug-resistant infection. Hoyle’s valiant struggle against Mycobacteroides abscessus, compounded by cystic fibrosis and two lung transplants, epitomized the challenges posed by AMR.
Reflecting on Hoyle’s plight, Davies underscored the imperative of intergenerational equity in combating AMR, lamenting the failure to replenish resources for future generations. Furthermore, she elucidates the stark disparities, with a disproportionate burden of AMR-related fatalities borne by children in sub-Saharan Africa.
Davies drew parallels between AMR and the climate crisis, envisioning a scenario where AMR surpasses climate-related mortality if left unchecked. Notably, she emphasized the interconnectedness of waterborne infections and environmental degradation.
Despite the stories about inappropriate antibiotic usage, an attempt at this area continues. However, the sudden occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic is creating additional problems for the initiative. Davies believes that the measures would only be effective if different stakeholders, including agriculture, would work together in harmony to counter the multifaceted challenges of antimicrobial resistance.
Conversely, she sounded more optimistic when she cited findings of genomics and artificial intelligence, mentioning the potential of new antibiotic discovery. Also, innovative financial solutions like NHS England’s subscription-based approach would facilitate the economic blockage of antibiotic development if adopted at all, The Guardian.
Davies’s involvement in the UN Global Leaders Group on AMR underscored the global imperative for coordinated action. She advocated for tangible targets by 2030, including reductions in human mortality and antimicrobial usage, alongside enhanced governance structures to ensure inclusivity and accountability.
In essence, Davies’s advocacy epitomized a call to action, emphasizing the urgency of addressing AMR as a global health priority.