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Antib
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Antib
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The mechanism of activity may result in the inhibition of the production of proteins or
cell wall materials or or of the DNA replication.
Also cell membrane
activities that maintain chemical
balance can be disrupted.
Some bacteria are naturally resistant to
certain antibiotics.
A more worrying problem is when some bacteria
that are normally susceptible to antibiotics
become resistant as a result of adaptation
through genetic change.
Additionally, within the body of a human
being, the genes coding for antibiotic resistance
in one species of bacteria can easily spread to
other bacterial species through an exchange of
genetic material.
All antibiotic-resistant bacteria survive in
the presence of the antibiotic and
continue to grow and multiply
causing longer illness or even death.
Because resistance is increasing and few new antibiotics have been discovered and marketed in recent years,
the problem of antibiotic resistance is now a major public health threat.Each year, about 25 000 patients die in the EU from an infection caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria.
The vast majority of human consumption of antibiotics occurs in the community (outside hospitals). Nevertheless, antibiotic consumption in hospitalsis a main driver for the spread of antibiotic-resistant b a c t e r i a responsible for healthcare-associated infections.
In Estonia antibiotic consumption is 3.5 times lower than in Greece, which has the highest consumption in the community.
One main driver for the selection and spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria responsible for healthcare-associated infections in hospitalised patients is the use of antibiotics in hospitals.
Carbapenems is a last-line class of antibiotics, which is used in a large majority of hospitals. Overuse of carbapenems contrib-utes to the selection of carbapenem-resistant bacteria. From 2007 to 2010 overall (hospital sector and community) consumption of carbapenems increased significantly in EU/EEA countries: 15 out of 19 countries reported an increase during that period.
Increase in 15 countries
Decrease or stablein 4 countries
Take antibiotics responsibly!
Before the discovery of antibiotics, thousands of people died from bacterial diseases. Since antibiotics have been discovered and used, diseases that had previously been difficult to treat, were now treatable or preventable, and many lives were saved. But also, more and more bacteria, which were originally susceptible, have become resistant.
Infections due to these multidrug-resistant bacteria in the EU result in extra healthcare costs and productivity losses, each year of at least:
€ 1 500 000 000Discovery of new classes of antibiotics
There is a constant need to develop new antibiotics with a novel mechanism of action to keep up with the acquisition of resistance among pathogenic bacteria. For approximately four decades the pharmaceutical
industry provided a steady flow of new antibiotics. Since then, only three systemically-administered antibiotics have been marketed in the EU.
Sulfonamides
Beta-lactams
Aminoglycosides
Glycopeptides
Macrolides
Tetracyclines
Chloramphenicol
Lincosamides
Streptogramins
Quinolones
Trimethoprim
Lipopeptides
Oxazolidinones
1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
Staphylococcus aureus
Enterococcusfaecium
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Escherichia coli
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Only 70 years after the introduction of antibiotics, we are facing the possibility of a future without effective antibiotics for several types of bacteria.
Antibiotics are NOT the solution for infections caused by viruses such as common colds or flu. Antibiotics are effective only against bacterial infections.
Take antibiotics only when prescribed by a doctor and follow the doctor’s advice on how to take the antibiotics so that they can stay effective also in the future.
The correct diagnosis and the decision about whether antibiotics are necessary can only be made by a medical doctor. Take antibiotics responsibly.
European Antibiotic Awareness Day is marked on 18 November to promote prudent antibiotic use. Visitantibiotic.ecdc.europa.eu
or follow #EAAD
Antibiotics
Causes of antibiotic resistance
Antibiotics kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria by disrupting one or more of their essential cellular functions.
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How antibiotics work
Antibiotic consumption in the community ...and the consumption in hospitalsThe antibiotic consumption varies widely from country to country.
Antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacteria to resist to the action of an antibiotic. One of the major drivers for antibiotic resistance is the use of antibiotics, which exerts an ecological pressure on bacteria and contributes to emergence and selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteriain populations.
Carbapenem consumption