FACING ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND STRENGTHENING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM: ONLINE INFORMATIVE AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES / FRONTEGGIARE LA RESISTENZA AGLI ANTIMICROBICI E RINFORZARE IL SISTEMA IMMUNITARIO: RISORSE EDUCATIVE ED INFORMATIVE IN RETE
Abstract
The article presents informative and educational documents downloadable for free from the internet that consist of text, graphs, images, videos and a comic book. They can also be used in the school for teaching units. According to the World Health Organisation, antimicrobial resistance is among the top 10 global public health threats. Resistance to antimicrobials, which include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics, results in the loss of their efficacy. In fact, germs that have antibiotic-resistance traits in their DNA can survive a treatment and reproduce, which leads to resistant strains. Antibiotics are often overprescribed, overused and misused. This contributes to accelerating the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, which results in prolonged illness, the need for more expensive and intensive care, and even disability or death. Hygiene and vaccines may reduce infections and consequent antibiotic use, while a healthy diet, physical activity, forest visits, yoga, qigong and other techniques may strengthen the immune system. Environmental release of antibiotics from urban sewage systems, hospitals, farms and the pharmaceutical industry may contribute to antibiotic resistance. The pharmaceutical industry can be encouraged to drive the change through labels that ensure compliance with standards for responsible production. Some documents report the results obtained in countries where antimicrobial resistance has been tackled in human and animal farming sectors. By 2050, inaction may result in 10 million deaths yearly and a cumulative cost of 100 trillion $US. The “One health” approach is a worldwide accepted concept by which the health of humans, animals and the environment are interconnected and interdependent. Several documents deal with the links between biodiversity loss and increased infection risk for humans. A war may intensify the problem as a consequence of, e.g. lack of hygiene, overcrowding and hindered contact tracing.
L'articolo presenta documenti informativi ed educativi scaricabili gratuitamente da internet che consistono in testi, grafici, immagini, video ed un fumetto. Il testo è basato esclusivamente sui suddetti documenti, che possono essere utilizzati per attività didattiche. Secondo l'Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità, l’antimicrobico-resistenza è tra le prime 10 minacce per la salute pubblica globale. La resistenza agli antimicrobici, tra i quali sono compresi antibiotici, antivirali, antimicotici e antiparassitari, provoca la perdita della loro efficacia. Germi con caratteristiche genetiche che li rendono resistenti agli antibiotici possono sopravvivere a un trattamento e riprodursi; ciò porta alla formazione di ceppi resistenti. Gli antibiotici sono spesso prescritti con molta facilità, usati eccessivamente e male. Ciò contribuisce ad accelerare l'emergere della resistenza antimicrobica, che si traduce in malattie prolungate, necessità di cure più costose e intensive, persino disabilità o morte. Igiene e vaccini possono ridurre le infezioni e il conseguente uso di antibiotici; sana alimentazione, attività fisica, passeggiate nei boschi, yoga, qigong e altre tecniche possono rafforzare il sistema immunitario. Antibiotici provenienti da reti fognarie urbane, ospedali, fattorie e industrie farmaceutiche possono contribuire all’antibiotico-resistenza. L'industria farmaceutica può essere incoraggiata a guidare il cambiamento attraverso marchi che garantiscono una produzione rispettosa dell’ambiente. Alcuni documenti riportano i risultati ottenuti in paesi ove l’antimicrobico-resistenza è stata affrontata con successo, sia nel settore umano che nell'allevamento animale. Entro il 2050, in mancanza di iniziative utili, si prevedono 10 milioni di decessi l'anno e un costo cumulativo di 100 trilioni di dollari USA. L'approccio "One health" è un concetto accettato a livello mondiale in base al quale la salute degli esseri umani, degli animali e dell'ambiente sono interconnessi e interdipendenti. Vari documenti trattano i legami tra la perdita di biodiversità e l'aumento del rischio di infezioni per l'uomo. Le guerre possono intensificare il problema a causa di mancanza di igiene, sovraffollamento ed un tracciamento dei contatti ostacolato.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejphs.v5i2.131
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