World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2021
Spread Awareness, Stop Resistance! Is the important and relevant theme of this year’s World Antimicrobial Awareness Week. World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) was introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO) to increase global awareness of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). WAAW takes place annually from 18 to 24 November. During this week best practices are shared with the general public, healthcare workers and policymakers to highlight the importance of stopping the further emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. As Antimicrobial Resistance research is at the heart of COMBACTE’s projects, we asked some of our colleagues to share their views on World Antimicrobial Awareness Week and AMR in general.
Spread Awareness, Stop Resistance
Our colleagues agree that creating awareness is an important starting point when it comes to fighting AMR. Henri van Werkhoven (Postdoctoral Researcher, UMC Utrecht) and Esther Kok (Communication Manager, University of Antwerp) both highlight the fact that awareness weeks such as WAAW are useful to reach people that might otherwise be unaware of, or uninformed about AMR. Antibiotics should be used with care to maintain safe and effective treatment options against infections.
“AMR and pandemic illness are among the most challenging public health issues worldwide. Continuous awareness about the spread of, and proper treatment for infectious illness are of utmost importance.”
WAAW and COMBACTE’s Work
Tomislav Kostyanev (Medical Microbiologist, University of Antwerp) works as a full-time researcher for COMBACTE’s LAB-NET. He says that his work is certainly related to this year’s theme. “Building a clinical trial laboratory network for anti-infectives is always related to antimicrobial resistance and containing the spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens. The work we do in COMBACTE, for example setting up clinical trials and training laboratories in the detection of resistant pathogens, will always be closely linked with such campaigns in the field of AMR.”
Cristina Prat (Medical Microbiologist, UMC Utrecht) adds that there is a need to raise awareness among other healthcare professionals about the importance of AMR.
“As a consultant, I often find myself raising awareness among other healthcare professionals working in fields less related to infectious diseases about the importance of using antimicrobials only when needed and, in that case, to narrow the spectrum or to stop as soon as feasible.”
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND COVID-19
As we find ourselves in the middle of a pandemic, it is even more urgent to highlight antimicrobial resistance. The WHO advises that the misuse of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to even further accelerated emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Alike van der Velden finds that lessons learned during the pandemic can also be relevant for combatting AMR.
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Antimicrobial resistance is a health threat of the utmost importance. It should be a top priority on a global scale, similar to climate change and other global issues.
Tomislav Kostyanev, University of Antwerp
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