Due to the excessive use of antibiotics, which according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2050 will cause 10 million deaths, experts from UNAM, academia, government authorities and companies issued the Declaration for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance CDMX 2021. In it they pronounce so that Mexico and the world reduce the use of these compounds by half in the next decade. The first step is to decrease them by 30 percent, in the next three years.
Gathered at the Seminary “Antimicrobial resistance: comprehensive approach. One health. Urgent necessary actions ”, organized by UNAM, through the University Health Research Program (PUIS), and the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico, the specialists convened the three levels of government, educational institutions, trade unions, members of the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries, as well as civil society organizations to join efforts to achieve the goals proposed in this Declaration and have a positive impact on the control of AMR in our country.
Why is it such an important topic?
The coordinator of PUIS, and of the Network of the University Plan for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance (PUCRA), Samuel Ponce de León Rosales, recalled that today it is clear that prevention in professional practice must be the key to avoid the appearance of microorganisms resistant to drugs, in addition to allowing it to be in better harmony with the environment.
Therefore, he stressed the need to create a General Coordination to stop Antimicrobial Resistance (RAM) that allows working together with the universe of actors involved in the issue.
“We do not see microbial resistance in such a brutal way as COVID-19, that is why it is difficult for us to implement actions, even though we know the scenario in the short and medium term, because as the WHO said: how many million deaths will there be later? from 2040; or the Davos Forum, what this situation will cost the world. Clearly, in the next decade we need to reduce 50 percent of the consumption of antibiotics globally and for this we need to seek that the proposed objectives become norms and regulations ”.
Actions to be implemented
During the closing of the meeting, Eric Ochoa Hein, from the Salvador Zubirán National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition, was in charge of reading the Declaration in which it is recognized that the use and abuse of antibiotics has generated that the world is In the midst of a threat to all sectors and to combat it, actions are needed at the local and national level in which everyone participates.
The declaration adds that the agricultural industry is one of those that most uses these compounds, which is why they should be mainly advised to avoid the use of antibiotics for human use in food production.
In addition, generate a campaign to raise awareness of society based on basic education, a task in which universities and academies can help by incorporating content related to AMR and its combat in their study plans.
Since the misuse of antimicrobials occurs mainly to treat upper respiratory infections or diarrhea, the document indicates that their routine prescription should be avoided, therefore their control represents an advance that must be monitored by the responsible authorities.
In relation to uncomplicated acute urinary tract infections, the best medical practice should be emphasized, with the aim of updating the cases of recent resistance.
The text also specifies that it must be ensured that, when necessary, antimicrobials are sufficient and that their supply is continuous, to promote adequate adherence to the correct prescription. In addition, the private and adjacent outpatient clinics must be continuously educated by the regulatory authority.