Optimizing Antibiotic Use: Addressing Resistance Through Effective Strategies and Health Policies

<b>Background:</b> Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a significant challenge to public health, posing a considerable threat to effective disease management on a global scale. The increasing incidence of infections caused by resistant bacteria has led to heightened morbidity a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Maurizio Capuozzo, Andrea Zovi, Roberto Langella, Alessandro Ottaiano, Marco Cascella, Manlio Scognamiglio, Francesco Ferrara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Antibiotics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/13/12/1112
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846106203783954432
author Maurizio Capuozzo
Andrea Zovi
Roberto Langella
Alessandro Ottaiano
Marco Cascella
Manlio Scognamiglio
Francesco Ferrara
author_facet Maurizio Capuozzo
Andrea Zovi
Roberto Langella
Alessandro Ottaiano
Marco Cascella
Manlio Scognamiglio
Francesco Ferrara
author_sort Maurizio Capuozzo
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a significant challenge to public health, posing a considerable threat to effective disease management on a global scale. The increasing incidence of infections caused by resistant bacteria has led to heightened morbidity and mortality rates, particularly among vulnerable populations. <b>Main text:</b> This review analyzes current strategies and health policies adopted in the European Union (EU) and Italy to manage AMR, presenting an in-depth examination of approaches for containment and mitigation. Factors such as excessive prescriptions, self-medication, and the misuse of antibiotics in livestock contribute to the selection and spread of resistant strains. Furthermore, this review provides a detailed overview of resistance mechanisms, including enzymatic inactivation, reduced permeability, efflux pump activity, and target site protection, with specific examples provided. The review underscores the urgent need to develop new antibiotics and implement diagnostic testing to ensure targeted prescriptions and effectively combat resistant infections. Current estimates indicate that AMR-related infections cause over 60,000 deaths annually in Europe and the United States, with projections suggesting a potential rise to 10 million deaths per year by 2050 if current trends are not reversed. The review also examines existing public health policies in Europe and Italy, focusing on national and regional strategies to combat AMR. These include promoting responsible antibiotic use, improving surveillance systems, and encouraging research and development of new therapeutic options. <b>Conclusions:</b> Finally, the review presents short- and long-term perspectives from the authors, suggesting actionable steps for policymakers and healthcare providers. Ultimately, a coordinated and multidisciplinary approach involving healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public is essential to mitigate the impact of AMR and ensure the effectiveness of antibiotics for future generations.
format Article
id doaj-art-5a87055a27c848b488e24015eb306f19
institution Kabale University
issn 2079-6382
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Antibiotics
spelling doaj-art-5a87055a27c848b488e24015eb306f192024-12-27T14:06:02ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822024-11-011312111210.3390/antibiotics13121112Optimizing Antibiotic Use: Addressing Resistance Through Effective Strategies and Health PoliciesMaurizio Capuozzo0Andrea Zovi1Roberto Langella2Alessandro Ottaiano3Marco Cascella4Manlio Scognamiglio5Francesco Ferrara6Pharmaceutical Department, Asl Napoli 3 Sud, Marittima Street 3, 80056 Ercolano, ItalyMinistry of Health, Viale Giorgio Ribotta 5, 00144 Rome, ItalyItalian Society of Hospital Pharmacy (SIFO), SIFO Secretariat of the Lombardy Region, Via Carlo Farini 81, 20159 Milan, ItalyIstituto Nazionale Tumori di Napoli, IRCCS “G. Pascale”, Via M. Semmola, 80131 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, ItalyPharmaceutical Department, Asl Salerno, Salvatore Giordano Street 7, 84014 Nocera Inferiore, ItalyPharmacy Department, Asl Napoli 3 Sud, Dell’amicizia Street 22, 80035 Nola, Italy<b>Background:</b> Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a significant challenge to public health, posing a considerable threat to effective disease management on a global scale. The increasing incidence of infections caused by resistant bacteria has led to heightened morbidity and mortality rates, particularly among vulnerable populations. <b>Main text:</b> This review analyzes current strategies and health policies adopted in the European Union (EU) and Italy to manage AMR, presenting an in-depth examination of approaches for containment and mitigation. Factors such as excessive prescriptions, self-medication, and the misuse of antibiotics in livestock contribute to the selection and spread of resistant strains. Furthermore, this review provides a detailed overview of resistance mechanisms, including enzymatic inactivation, reduced permeability, efflux pump activity, and target site protection, with specific examples provided. The review underscores the urgent need to develop new antibiotics and implement diagnostic testing to ensure targeted prescriptions and effectively combat resistant infections. Current estimates indicate that AMR-related infections cause over 60,000 deaths annually in Europe and the United States, with projections suggesting a potential rise to 10 million deaths per year by 2050 if current trends are not reversed. The review also examines existing public health policies in Europe and Italy, focusing on national and regional strategies to combat AMR. These include promoting responsible antibiotic use, improving surveillance systems, and encouraging research and development of new therapeutic options. <b>Conclusions:</b> Finally, the review presents short- and long-term perspectives from the authors, suggesting actionable steps for policymakers and healthcare providers. Ultimately, a coordinated and multidisciplinary approach involving healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public is essential to mitigate the impact of AMR and ensure the effectiveness of antibiotics for future generations.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/13/12/1112antimicrobial resistance (AMR)inappropriate antibiotic usepublic health policiesinfectionssurveillance and control
spellingShingle Maurizio Capuozzo
Andrea Zovi
Roberto Langella
Alessandro Ottaiano
Marco Cascella
Manlio Scognamiglio
Francesco Ferrara
Optimizing Antibiotic Use: Addressing Resistance Through Effective Strategies and Health Policies
Antibiotics
antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
inappropriate antibiotic use
public health policies
infections
surveillance and control
title Optimizing Antibiotic Use: Addressing Resistance Through Effective Strategies and Health Policies
title_full Optimizing Antibiotic Use: Addressing Resistance Through Effective Strategies and Health Policies
title_fullStr Optimizing Antibiotic Use: Addressing Resistance Through Effective Strategies and Health Policies
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing Antibiotic Use: Addressing Resistance Through Effective Strategies and Health Policies
title_short Optimizing Antibiotic Use: Addressing Resistance Through Effective Strategies and Health Policies
title_sort optimizing antibiotic use addressing resistance through effective strategies and health policies
topic antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
inappropriate antibiotic use
public health policies
infections
surveillance and control
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/13/12/1112
work_keys_str_mv AT mauriziocapuozzo optimizingantibioticuseaddressingresistancethrougheffectivestrategiesandhealthpolicies
AT andreazovi optimizingantibioticuseaddressingresistancethrougheffectivestrategiesandhealthpolicies
AT robertolangella optimizingantibioticuseaddressingresistancethrougheffectivestrategiesandhealthpolicies
AT alessandroottaiano optimizingantibioticuseaddressingresistancethrougheffectivestrategiesandhealthpolicies
AT marcocascella optimizingantibioticuseaddressingresistancethrougheffectivestrategiesandhealthpolicies
AT manlioscognamiglio optimizingantibioticuseaddressingresistancethrougheffectivestrategiesandhealthpolicies
AT francescoferrara optimizingantibioticuseaddressingresistancethrougheffectivestrategiesandhealthpolicies