Celebrate World Health Day

World Health Day is recognized on April 7 to mark the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO). This year’s key health issue is antimicrobial resistance (AMR), also referred to as drug resistance.

AMR is the resistance of a microorganism to an antimicrobial medicine to which it was previously sensitive. The resistant organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi and some parasites) are able to withstand attack by antimicrobial medicines (i.e. antibiotics, antivirals and antimalarials). Thus causing standard treatments to become ineffective and allowing the infection to persist and potentially spread. AMR is the result of misuse of antimicrobial medicines and develops when a microorganism mutates or acquires a resistance gene. When the microorganisms become resistant they are often referred to as “superbugs”.

What’s one thing you can do to “combat antimicrobial resistance”? Follow the doctor’s orders. If you are prescribed an antimicrobial medicine by your doctor take it as directed.

Source: who.int