WHO launches tool to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance



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A new global tool has been launched to help governments reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The Aware tool was launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) as part of a global campaign against antimicrobial resistance.

Developed by the WHO Essential Medicines List, the tool categorizes antibiotics into three groups – Access, Surveillance and Reserves – to guide governments on the issue of prioritizing antibiotics.

In particular, it specifies which antibiotics should be available at all times, and which should be used sparingly or kept and used only as a last resort.

The WHO hopes that the new campaign will increase global consumption of antibiotics in the Access group to at least 60% and reduce the use of antibiotics most at risk of resistance from both other groups. Because Access antibiotics target a specific microorganism rather than several, this reduces the risk of resistance.

"Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most urgent health risks of our time and threatens to cancel a century of medical progress," said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO. . "All countries must strike a balance between ensuring access to antibiotics that can save lives and slow down drug resistance by reserving the use of certain antibiotics for the most difficult infections to treat. I urge countries to adopt Aware, which is a valuable and practical tool to achieve this. "

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the world's most pressing health concerns, and one of them continues to intensify, according to a recent report by the International Coordination Group. on antimicrobial resistance. It is estimated that in many countries more than 50% of antibiotics are used inappropriately for treatments such as no effect viruses.

"Addressing antimicrobial resistance requires a fair balance between access and preservation," said Dr. Hanan Balkhy, Deputy Director General of the WHO for Antimicrobial Resistance. "The Aware tool can guide policies to ensure that patients continue to be treated while limiting the use of antibiotics most at risk of resistance."

The Aware tool was developed to help improve the use of antibiotics at a time when investments in the development of new treatments are lacking. It is hoped that Aware will help decision-makers, prescribers and health care workers choose the right antibiotic at the right time and protect endangered antibiotics.

"Antimicrobial resistance is an invisible pandemic," said Dr. Mariângela Simão, Deputy Director General for Access to Medicines. "We are already beginning to perceive the signs of a post-antibiotic era, with the emergence of infections impossible to treat by all classes of antibiotics. We need to protect these valuable last-line antibiotics so we can continue to treat and prevent serious infections. "

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