World Antimicrobial Awareness Week
The World Antimicrobial Awareness Week will take place between 18th-24th November this year. This global campaign aims to spread awareness for antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR has been declared as “one of the top 10 global public health threats” according to the World Health Organisation1. AMR arises due to genetic changes in bacteria, fungi and parasites, resulting in resistance to the medicines used to treat them. Patients no longer respond to treatment and this can lead to severe illness and further spread of the resistant microbe into the population.
Key Antimicrobial-Resistant Strains:
MRSA - This strain of bacteria is resistant to a range of commonly-prescribed antibiotics. Often entering through an open wound, MRSA makes hospital patients prime targets for this bacterial infection. In fact, 35% of MRSA cases arise in a hospital setting. MRSA was noted as a ‘serious threat’ in the 2019 AR Threats Report.
Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) - Life-threatening diarrhoea is caused by this bacteria. It is estimated that just under 224,000 people were hospitalised with C. diff in 2017 in the US alone, costing around $1 billion in healthcare costs. It has, therefore, been noted as an ‘urgent threat’ in the 2019 AR Threats Report.
Drug-resistant Candida auris (C. auris) - Unlike the other two examples, C. auris is a drug-resistant yeast species. Some strains are resistant to all three common antifungal classes, meaning these infections are currently untreatable. Its ability to cause outbreaks in a hospital setting is exacerbated by the fact it is often misidentified in the lab. Like C, diff, it has been given the threat level of ‘urgent threat’ in the 2019 AR Threats Report.
Despite this sounding fairly bleak, there is hope on the horizon. The world of medical research is seeing a surge in AMR interest, with alternative treatments being developed and now prescribed. Sadly, the current drugs are not enough to completely eradicate these microbes. Prevention of AMR-infection in the first place is, therefore, key.
Infection control remains the essential preventative method. In a healthcare setting, infections can spread through surfaces such as bed rails, countertops and sinks and medical devices, such as catheters and ventilators. In addition, hospital curtains are a huge accumulator of microbes due to their difficulty to clean and irregular rotation. This is where Kwickscreen comes in!
Our screens are an effective infection control method by acting as a physical barrier between beds to reduce microbe transmission from patient to patient. I know you’re thinking “curtains do the same thing”. Yes, that is true. However, a Kwickscreen has additional key features contributing to their effective role in infection control:
A single touch point for ease of cleaning
Suitable for cleaning by standard hospital cleaning products
Opportunity for regular bedside cleaning, not only between patients, but also during the hospital stay of each patient.
This not only protects patients but also healthcare staff. How do you think awareness should be spread about antimicrobes?