22/03/2025
Summary from the AMR Risk Awareness webinar with Dr Abba Paul
The webinar focused on the pressing issue of antimicrobial resistance, featuring insights from Dr. Paul Abba, who highlighted the critical need for proper medical diagnosis before self-medicating, particularly with antibiotics. MCheck Isho opened the session by stressing the importance of consulting healthcare professionals to avoid complications arising from antibiotic misuse. Participants were encouraged to engage actively and prepare questions for Dr. Abba, who underscored the significant public health implications of antimicrobial resistance.
Dr. Abba provided a comprehensive overview of antimicrobials, detailing their mechanisms of action against bacterial cells and how bacteria develop resistance. He explained that improper antibiotic usage, such as sub-optimal dosing and self-medication for viral infections, exacerbates the problem of resistance. The discussion included the role of enzymes, efflux pumps, genetic mutations in resistance development, and the impact of horizontal gene transfer among bacteria.
Additionally, Dr. Abba addressed the broader risk factors contributing to antimicrobial resistance, including poor hygiene practices, agricultural misuse of antibiotics, and environmental contamination. He pointed out the global implications of resistance, particularly through travel, and the challenges posed by a lack of new antibiotics and regulatory oversight on antibiotic sales. The importance of monitoring resistance patterns by medical laboratory scientists was emphasised as a crucial step in controlling the spread of resistant bacteria and mitigating public health risks.
Materials and recordings are available via the link below:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rs19tpPlzV_-RIP72qBVK1zD4xdO04v0?usp=sharing
