NUI Galway are hosting a free public event today on tackling the issue of antibiotic resistance and the growing prevalence of superbugs.
Antibiotic resistant bacteria, often called “superbugs” are appearing and spreading all over the world and pose a serious threat to public health.
These mutant bacteria have spread so far in no small part due to massive overuse of antibiotics in society, whether it’s people taking them unnecessarily, or their use in agriculture.
The Review of Antimicrobial Resistance commissioned by the UK government in July 2014 warned that by 2050 these superbugs could be responsible for up to 10 million deaths a year.
To mark European Antibiotic Awareness Day today NUIG are hosting a free public event, ‘Resistance Rebellion – The Rise of Superbugs’ in the Orbsen building.
Dr Dearbháile Morris of the School of Medicine says “European Antibiotic Awareness Day is a reminder of how much the discovery of antibiotics has helped us all to live longer and healthier lives, but also of how much is at stake if we do not act to safeguard antibiotics.”
“If we do not have antibiotics that work, certain types of surgery and cancer treatments will become almost impossible to perform safely.”
“We can safeguard antibiotics by making sure we only use them when we need them, by making sure we complete the dose as directed by the doctor, by not sharing antibiotics with others and by making sure we bring back any unused antibiotics to the pharmacy for correct disposal.”
This free event will give members of the public a chance to meet with medical experts and discuss what they can do to solve the problem of antibiotic resistance.
Speakers include NUI Galway’s Professor Martin Cormican, HSE National Clinical Lead on Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control and Ms Caroline Garvan, Superintending Veterinary Inspector in the Antimicrobial Resistance division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.
Professor Cormican and Ms Garvan will talk about how antibiotics are becoming less useful in both human and veterinary medicine.
They will also discuss the One Health concept, which recognises that human health is linked to the health of animals and the environment that humans share with them.
To register for this free event please click here.
