A new article from Sepsis Research FEAT trustee Dr Catharina Hartman
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasingly hot topic and one that is of pressing concern to medics, researchers and the general public. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that ‘common infections are becoming harder to treat as the antimicrobials used to treat them become less effective’. AMR is therefore an issue with great relevance to the treatment of sepsis, where the administration of antibiotics is fundamental in the early treatment of patients.
Observed on 18–24 November each year, World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) has as its slogan “Antimicrobials: Handle with Care”, highlighting that antimicrobial medicines, such as antibiotics, are a precious resource and should be used prudently.
In an article published to coincide with WAAW 2022, Sepsis Research FEAT trustee Dr Catharina Hartman looks at how AMR means that the antibiotics we use are no longer effective in treating infections promptly. She explains that the longer it takes to tackle the infection, the more likely it is that the body’s inflammatory response continues, keeping in motion the negative effects on the patient’s tissues and organs and leading to consequences such as amputations or PTSD.
You can read Dr Hartman’s full article on the News Medical website here