Experts warn that if there are no timely prevention measures, antibiotic resistance (AMR) will cause at least 10 million deaths each year by 2050, equivalent to the number of deaths from cancer.
Information is shared and discussed by experts at scientific conferences Antibiotic resistance and multidisciplinary infection treatment strategiesrecently organized by the Vietnam Respiratory Association and GSK. The program aims to promote action, raise awareness and call for rational use of antibiotics.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Vietnam is one of the countries facing the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. This condition stems from the habit of using antibiotics unnecessarily or incorrectly over the years.
Prof. Dr. Ngo Quy Chau, Chairman of the Vietnam Respiratory Association, commented that drug resistance control needs a comprehensive approach, especially in the three fields that use antibiotics the most: respiratory, ENT and pediatrics. “To build an effective infection management strategy, we need to rely on updated microbiological data at hospitals, synchronize treatment guidelines and enhance training for medical staff,” Mr. Chau emphasized.
Reality at the National Children’s Hospital shows that respiratory diseases always account for the highest hospitalization rate and tend to increase in the period 2020 – 2024. Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Minh Dien, Director of the hospital, said the main bacteria causing community-acquired pneumonia in Northern children include: Haemophilus Influenzaepneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae), and Moraxella catarrhalis Most are resistant to common antibiotics.
“The antibiotic management strategy in pediatrics needs to be based on the WHO classification framework, while promoting correct diagnosis of the cause of disease to avoid overuse of antibiotics for viral infections,” Mr. Dien said.
Experts share at the program. Image: Thu Bui
Not only in children, ENT infections and community-acquired pneumonia are also common diseases in adults, contributing to increased hospitalizations and deaths, especially in the elderly with underlying diseases. Data show that pneumococcal strains that cause respiratory disease are showing significantly reduced sensitivity to many commonly used antibiotics.
At the seminar, Associate Professor, Dr. Pharmacist Nguyen Hoang Anh, Director of the National Center for Drug Information and Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring (Ministry of Health), said that community pharmacists and pharmacies have an important role in consulting and helping patients comply with the correct treatment regimen to minimize drug resistance. Experts called for coordinated multidisciplinary action and increased public awareness to protect the effectiveness of antibiotics, an important weapon in the treatment of infectious diseases.