miércoles, 12 de noviembre de 2008

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Argumentative Essay



Is needed a concerted global response to tackle rising rates of Antibiotic resistance?


ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE


Scientists say that a concerted global response is now needed to address rising rates of bacterial resistance caused by the use and abuse of antibiotics, which changed the world. Since their discovery almost eight decades ago, they have revolutionised the treatment of infections, transforming once deadly diseases into manageable health problems. The simultaneous decline in research and development of new medicines, is now threatening to take us back to a pre-antibiotic era. Without effective treatment and prevention of bacterial infections researchers also risk rolling back important achievements of modern medicine such as mayor surgery, organ transplantation and cancer chemotherapy. However, the World Health Organization states that they have presented a global strategy for the containment of antimicrobial resistance, calling for a multidisciplinary and coordinated approach. This essay will look at some of the arguments for and against the need to give a worldwide response to face rising rates of antibiotic resistance.

Some researchers think that international organisations have not provided sufficient financial and human resources to implement a global response to prevent the problem of antimicrobial resistance. They say that antibiotic resistance is a complex problem and it is needed urgently to take action in three key areas: leadership on international and national levels and change in the behaviour of consumers and providers. Strategies for containing antibiotic resistance in low income countries are still blocked by patients’ poverty and weak health systems and many high income countries with well developed regulations and policies lack coordinated strategies against antibiotic resistance. Although the European Union has responded to the resistance problem, antibiotics are still sold over the counter without a prescription in some EU countries, violating existing laws and regulations and in all countries self medication with leftover medicines occurs. The root causes of certain behaviours need to be tackled and the ultimate responsibility for coordinating the work lies with the government. Another point is that the role the patients as consumers in growing stronger. They need access to information and knowledge to reduce their expectations of antibiotics in self limiting infections, and doctors need new tools to help them justify their treatment decisions. It is claimed that if the arguments for restricting the use of antibiotics can be made sufficiently convincing, reduced demand from the consumers may be the strongest force driving change.

However, some experts say that international organisations have developed multidisciplinary programmes, for example, in Sweden the government is funding Strama, a nationwide multidisciplinary and multifaceted action programme against antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic sales have been reduce without measurable negative consequences, and resistance remains low. In Chile, after a mass media campaign, regulatory measures were implemented to make antibiotics available by prescription


only, resulting in an initial decrease of 35% in antibiotic sales. Another point is that it is carrying out arrangements between public organisations and private companies to develop antibacterial agents to match current public health needs.

In conclusion, a fundamentally changed view of antibiotics in needed. I think that they must be looked on as a common good, where individuals must be aware that their choice to use an antibiotic will affect the possibility of effectively treating bacterial infections in other people and the use of new antibiotics must be safeguarded by regulations and practices that ensure rational use, to avoid repeating the mistakes we have made by overusing the old ones.