WHO fight against multidrug-resistant germs

World Health Assembly advises on multi-drug resistant germs

05/19/2014

The 67th World Health Assembly of WHO begins in Geneva this Monday. One topic will be multiresistant germs in clinics that kill up to 20,000 people a year in Germany. Many of the deaths could be avoided.

Experts advise on multi-resistant germs

From today, 19 May to 24 May, the World Health Organization (WHO) 67th World Health Assembly will take place in Geneva. In addition to many other topics, according to Bayerischer Rundfunk, experts will also be debating multi-drug-resistant germs in hospitals. Every year, around 600,000 people in Germany are infected with dangerous germs and up to 20,000 people die of it. The reason why the problem is particularly prevalent in hospitals and nursing homes is that there are sick people and germs clustered. Therefore, the pathogens can spread excellently from patient to patient and multiply wonderfully in the weakened bodies.

Antibiotics are prescribed too lightly

For decades, antibiotics were considered a miracle cure for infectious diseases. However, as they have been prescribed too often and too lightly, it is becoming increasingly common for bacteria to develop resistance or even multi-drug resistance. Then even a small infection can be a great danger. In the worst case this leads to amputations or even death. The so-called MRSA germ („Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus“) is responsible for most infections. MRSA are staphylococcal pathogens that are resistant to all common market available beta-lactam antibiotics such as penicillin and only on the treatment with so-called „Reserve antibiotics“ speak to.

Weakened and elderly people at risk

Particularly at risk are people with a weakened immune system and the elderly. Last year, two-thirds of people were 70 or older. An infection can lead to numerous symptoms, such as inflammation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, pneumonia or blood poisoning. In addition to the frivolous use of antibiotics, the proliferation of such „superbugs“ also promoted by lack of sterility. In addition, it is generally true that healthy people rarely get MRSA. A prominent MRSA victim is the former Bundesliga footballer Matthias Sammer. After a routine operation, his knee had become severely inflamed and as a result he had to end his professional career in 1999. (Sb)