WHO antibiotic resistance is on the rise

More and more pathogens against which no antibiotic works

30/04/2014

More and more pathogens cause infections worldwide that are no longer effective against antibiotics. Even simple, small inflammations could soon become a deadly danger, because a weapon other than antibiotics hardly exists against infections. This is stated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its latest report, in which resistance to nine widespread pathogens from 114 countries was recorded for the first time. According to this, gonorrhea could spread again because numerous cases have already been registered in STD, in which no antibiotic was more effective.

Antibiotics have long been considered a miracle weapon against bacteria
Whether urinary tract infection, pneumonia or infected wounds - antibiotics are the first choice for infections. This could change in the future, however, because more and more pathogens are resistant to the all-purpose weapon. The causes of the resistances are manifold. Thus broiler chickens, cows and pigs are not over-treated with antibiotics. If man eats the flesh, he may pick up resistant germs. Environmental experts also point out that the increased use of the drugs via fertilizer but also wastewater pollutes the groundwater. The main reason for the increase in resistance, however, lies in the frequent and sometimes unnecessary use of funds. Many doctors even prescribe an antibiotic for a cold, even though it is caused by viruses that can not be counteracted by antibiotics. The pathogens responded by developing new survival strategies. They mutate and can pass on their resistance-conferring genes to other bacteria. In this way „infected“ one pathogen the other. Many bacteria are now even multi-resistant. Not one common antibiotic has lost its efficacy but several or even almost all of them. According to the WHO, more and more pathogen strains will be affected in the future, so that the miracle weapon antibiotic gradually loses its effectiveness.

Resistant pathogens of gonorrhea are spreading worldwide
In the case of the venereal disease gonorrhea, this case has already occurred. No common antibiotics is more effective against the infection. So far, however, there was still a remedy that could avert complications such as infertility. But according to the WHO's latest report on drug resistance, this antibiotic also has cases in 36 countries, including Austria and France, where the drug was ineffective. Since the 1980s, new antibiotics have been developed time and again to prevent what has become a reality at any cost. But the bacteria were more efficient than humans and have developed their own mechanisms to ensure their survival. With what sounds like a science fiction novel, doctors are confronted every day around the world.

According to the WHO, gonorrhea, but also many other infections, will become an untreatable disease in the future. With the resistance report, the organization documents for the first time that bacteria can no longer be controlled worldwide with antibiotics. „Without urgent and coordinated action by those involved, the world is heading for a post-antibiotic era, "warns WHO Vice-President Keiji Fukuda to the news agency „dpa“. „Simple infections and minor injuries that have been treatable for decades can kill again. "At the presentation of the report, the WHO pointed out that antibiotic resistance „now one of the main threats to health ".

Against many pathogens (almost) no antibiotic acts
For healthy people, many pathogens are safe. If these germs are resistant to antibiotics, this is not a problem at first, but if they get into the body of a patient, they can cause serious illness there. Among these pathogens is the intestinal bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae, which can cause lethal pneumonia especially in hospital patients with weakened immune systems. Often the bacteria are not only resistant to common antibiotics but also to the reserve antibiotics. According to the WHO, the last antibiotic is ineffective in up to 54 percent of infections. The situation is similar with the standard agents against the common urinary tract infections with E. coli bacteria.

In Europe, in particular, the multi-resistant hospital germ MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) causes major problems. In immunocompromised people, infections often lead to death when the germs enter the lungs, urinary tract or wounds. WHO estimates suggest that infected people are 64 percent more likely to be infected than those infected with the non-resistant staphylococcus.

Another problem encountered by experts in preparing the WHO report is the incompleteness of antibiotic resistance data, as not all countries adequately document it. „Resistances are there, "she quotes „Southgerman newspaper“ from the WHO report. „They have the potential to meet anyone at any age and in any country. "But as long as there is no change in the current, too-frequent use of antibiotics, „The world will lose more and more of this resource. The consequences will be devastating“, so Fukuda opposite the sheet. (Ag)