Antimicrobial resistance: a growing crisis
Intended for healthcare professionals
Art & Science Previous     Next

Antimicrobial resistance: a growing crisis

Yaso Shan Medical writer, Vinings Natural Health Centre, Haywards Heath, West Sussex

As this public health threat becomes an increasingly worrying global problem, Yaso Shan explores the need for a coherent and international action plan to minimise infections

Infectious diseases account for a substantial proportion of deaths worldwide. Much of the progress made recently in treating these infections is now threatened by a growing number of microbes that are becoming resistant to drugs once effective in combating them. The decreasing effectiveness of antimicrobials (antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasites) is a growing global public health concern. Multi-drug resistance and gram-negative bacterial resistance are particular concerns. But global taskforce objectives are encouraging, as are guidelines that seek to limit the use and prescribing of antimicrobials, especially antibiotics. Bacteriophage therapy and traditional plant-based medicines offer further scope in tackling what is predicted to be one of the biggest medical challenges of the 21st century.

Primary Health Care. 26, 1, 18-24. doi: 10.7748/phc.26.1.18.s27

Correspondence

yaso_shan@tiscali.co.uk

Peer review

This article has been subject to double-blind review and checked using antiplagiarism software

Conflict of interest

None declared

Received: 31 July 2015

Accepted: 14 September 2015

Your organisation does not have access to this article
Recommend to your librarian
RCNi-Plus
Already have access? Log in

OR

3-month trial offer for �5.25/month

Subscribe today and save 50% on your first three months
RCNi Plus users have full access to the following benefits:
  • Unlimited access to all 10 RCNi Journals
  • RCNi Learning featuring over 175 modules to easily earn CPD time
  • NMC-compliant RCNi Revalidation Portfolio to stay on track with your progress
  • Personalised newsletters tailored to your interests
  • A customisable dashboard with over 200 topics
Subscribe

Alternatively, you can purchase access to this article for the next seven days. Buy now


Are you a student? Our student subscription has content especially for you.
Find out more