抗微生物药物耐药性

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are microbes?

1. What are microbes?

Microbes or micro-organisms are very small organisms not visible with the bare eye. They include bacteria, viruses, single-celled parasites, and fungi.

2. What/who can they affect?

2. What/who can they affect?

Most microbes are good and useful -- for example bacteria in animal digestive systems that help them digest or absorb nutrients, or bacteria in the soil that help plants take up nitrogen. But some microbes can cause diseases in humans, animals (including terrestrial species, fish and other aquatic animals) and plants. A disease caused by a microorganism is called an infectious disease. Consequences of infectious diseases range from mild illness to death.

3. Can the same microbe infect both animals and people?

3. Can the same microbe infect both animals and people?

Some microbes can infect both animals and humans. Some microbes can survive on plants and result in infections in animals and humans if they are eaten. Diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans are called zoonoses.

4. What are antimicrobials?

4. What are antimicrobials?

Antimicrobial agents are medicines used to treat infectious diseases caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoan parasites.

5. How are antimicrobials used?

5. How are antimicrobials used?

Antimicrobials are used to treat, control and prevent diseases in plants, animals and humans.  A common practice in the past was to add antimicrobials in low concentrations to animal feed to stimulate growth and production. This practice has been increasingly discouraged but still occurs in some areas.

6. What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?

6. What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of microorganisms to persist or grow in the presence of a drug designed to inhibit or kill them.

7. What causes microbes to acquire antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?

7. What causes microbes to acquire antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?

Microbes become resistant to antimicrobials because of random mutations and bacteria can also acquire the blueprints for resistance (DNA) from other bacteria.  Sharing of the genes that confer resistance to antimicrobials is common among bacteria.  Microbes that are resistant can survive in the presence of the antimicrobial. Thus, when antimicrobials in humans or animals, are used or are present in the environment, the microbes that lack the resistance are inhibited or are killed and the resistant microbes are able to outcompete the microbes and become the dominant members of the population.  In other words, the use of antimicrobials drives the selection for antimicrobial-resistant populations.

8. Can we completely stop microbes from developing resistance to antimicrobials?

8. Can we completely stop microbes from developing resistance to antimicrobials?

No, AMR has been present just as long as bacteria.  Unfortunately, we cannot stop microbes from developing resistance because this is a natural evolutionary process, nor will we eradicate the problem. However, we can slow down the process by ensuring the prudent use of antimicrobials.  Employing sanitary practices and good food and water hygiene can reduce the transmission of these antimicrobial resistant.

9. How do we know which microbes have become resistant?

9. How do we know which microbes have become resistant?

Unfortunately, treatment failure because of AMR is occurring more and more often.  It is therefore important to know which antimicrobials will be effective at treating an infection.  Laboratory tests are available to determine if a microbe has become resistant to specific drugs.  Performing these tests before treatment begins is important because if the wrong drug is used, it will not only be ineffective result in treatment failure, but it will also contribute to the selection of more antimicrobial resistant organisms. 

10. How can we prevent the development of antimicrobial resistance?

10. How can we prevent the development of antimicrobial resistance?

We can use antimicrobials responsibly: reduce and regulate their use. This means to use them only when necessary, and only use those that microbes are susceptible to (isolate the microbe that causes the disease in the laboratory and test if it is susceptible for antimicrobials), for the duration and with the dose as prescribed.

For the use of treatment in humans and also in animals there exist lists of first, second and last choice antimicrobials for certain microbes. By following these antimicrobial formularies, and not using a last choice antimicrobial before trying a first choice, we can prevent the microbes from acquiring resistance against the last choice (last resort) antimicrobials. 

分享本页内容