The Reform Forum of Pharmacy Technicians in Nigeria (RFPTN) Anambra State Chapter has expressed worries over Nigeria’s alarming rate of anti-microbial resistance (AMR).
The alarm was contained in a statement signed and made available to journalists in Awka on Monday by the State Chairman of RFPTN, Engr. (PhT) Ugochukwu Ohazuruike.
He said AMR is one of today’s biggest threats to global health, food security, and development.
He said differentiating viral from bacterial infections is vital to limiting AMR in society.
According to Ohazuruike, it is important to be certain you are dealing with a bacterial or viral infection. Viral infections do not respond to antibiotics. Only antibiotics are used for bacterial infections.
“Injudicious use of antibiotics can further lead to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
AMR is a global health and development threat; it requires multifactorial, organ-level action to achieve sustainable development goals. (SDGS).
“The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that AMR is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity.
Misuse and overuse of antibiotics are the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant pathogens.
Lack of clean water and sanitation and inadequate infection prevention and control promote the spread of microbes, some of which can be resistant to antimicrobial treatment.
“Without effective antimicrobials, the success of modern medicine in treating infections, including during major surgery and cancer chemotherapy, would be at increased risk.
“We are moving towards the post-antibiotics era, where common infections and minor injuries can once again kill. This is as a result of AMR/drug-resistant bacteria
“AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death
“Antibiotics include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics. They are medicines used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals, and plants.
“AMR disadvantages include an increased death rate, increased disability, prolonged hospital stay, prolonged illness, the need for more expensive medicine, and financial challenges (expensive intensive care), while causes include inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, overprescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics, shortage of rapid diagnostic facilities, poor quality antibiotics, poor sanitation, global travel, excessive antibiotic use in agriculture, an increasing high-risk patient population, inadequate infection control, and misuse of antibiotics.
Regarding the role of RFPTN in tackling AMR, Ohazuruike, who also serves as the Managing Director of Eagle in Ovary Medical Diagnostic Centre/Clinical Support Services in Onitsha, offers advice to patients on symptomatic treatment, disposal of old or unused antibiotics, promotion of appropriate use of antibiotics, and education on AMR and its significance.
He advises patients about potential adverse effects (AEs) and interactions, and what actions to take if they occur.
Additionally, he advises prescribers on adherence to guidelines (Nigerian treatment guidelines, standard treatment guidelines), educates patients about compliance, ensures antibacterial quality by safeguarding against counterfeits, upholds common dispensing regulations, and educates patients on infection prevention and control.
Ohazuruike also encourages Pharmtechns to intelligently use information from reference books such as BNF, EMDEX, and MATINDEL to help address the situation.
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