Antimicrobial Resistance; What's the big deal?

Imaging getting to the hospital for a severe bacterial infection and being told:

Sorry we don't have any effective treatment to give for this stain anymore!

That's where the world is heading;

We are dangerously close!

Listen up: in as little as 10 years we could have run out of options to treat all the super bugs currently being mishandled.

How exactly is antimicrobial misuse linked to resistant strains and treatment failure?

I'm glad you asked;  every time you take an antimicrobial medication incorrectly (dose, duration, frequency, type, or treatment option) you actually give that bug, or others around it a taste of what was supposed to kill it; but instead with this "taste", the bug incorporates the drug in its DNA and subsequently becomes enhanced, empowered and immune to it. 

This simplified explanation is to tell you to be very careful with your medication. When in doubt, ALWAYS ask your pharmacist to explain and confirm your treatment. 

Unfortunately, power struggles in the medical sphere sees a rise in patients demand towards their prescribers (every condition is a suspected infection that requires antibiotics), as well as many prescribers' carelessness in prescribing patterns. With many taking shortcuts when it comes to correctly identifying causative agents. These compounded tragedies are leading us to a point of no return. 

The 4rth industrial revolution is bringing along an unimaginable microbial disaster; if nothing is done. 

Prescribers: be careful. Resort to antimicrobials under extraordinary precaution and care. 

Dispensers: be careful. Counsel and warn your patients with utmost clarity, providing treatment assistance and reminders.  

Patients: be careful. Do not demand from experts what you think you know. They will provide the best treatment option if you remove your "paying-customer-is-king" pressures from their sworn responsibilities, lengthy degrees, and daily clinical experiences. 

Let's all work together in care and respect.  

#Pharmers

#pharmacy 

#antimicrobials 

#stewards

#healthCare 

What are Consultant Pharmacists?

Have you heard of consultant pharmacists?

Do you perhaps know one?

Consultant pharmacists are a new thing in Africa! This specialty is more common abroad, however it is still growing and patients are now getting to know what it's all about.

So what is consulting pharmacy?

 In summary, it's a one-on-one specialized consulting service provided by a pharmacist to a client. It goes deeper than what you typically experience at your retail pharmacy when you go in to fill a prescription or inquire to buy some over the counter medication. Consultant pharmacists provide information, dig much deeper, and perform complex investigations to provide well rounded, complete health care analysis and assessments.

They are therefore suitable for:

Private patients: who seek private one-on-one sessions. 

Those with Co-morbidities : patients who have multiple chronic diseases or illnesses and find themselves with many regimens to follow. Eg. A diabetic, hypertensive hyperlipidemic patient with heart failure.

The elderly: apart form falling in the first described category, the elderly have fragile sensitive systems. Excretion, metabolism and other functions usually decrease with age and therefore dose monitoring and drug adjustments are frequently necessary.

The miscellaneous: anyone with unusual, uncommon or rare conditions seeking additional support, resources or health care guidance.

Consultant Pharmacist also provide drug information to patients with uncomplicated prescriptions and those seeking daily medicinal advice.

MRs (medicines review) are individualized drug reviews done in certain pertinent instances.

CMRs (Complete Medicines Reviews)  or sometimes called comprehensive medication review are done on the entire patient profile. Whether annually or quarterly, Therese thorough reviews are done to monitor and track hidden issues unperceived by patients or their carers.

MTMs (medication therapy management) are a combination of reviews and action plans set to streamline, and simplify misunderstandings and complexities.

This specialty comes as a result of therapy gaps, mistakes, and non-adherence due to mis-coordination, multiple prescribers, and patient misunderstandings exacerbated by unbearable side effect profiles.

As pharmacists we always try to encourage patients to participate in their health care and thus become empowered to improve it.

Brought to you by:

www.pharmers.co.za

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