To respond to a recent increase in the demand for antibiotics for treating viral infections and to promote their rational use, WHO in collaboration with Tajikistan’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection have conducted trainings in 4 of the largest hospitals in the country. Together, they have reached over 500 clinicians and senior nurses.
Antimicrobial resistance and the misuse of antibiotics
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) happens when microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites) change after exposure to antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials and anthelmintics). As a result, these medicines become ineffective and infections persist in the body, increasing the risk of spread to others.
While AMR occurs naturally over time, the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials are accelerating this process.
“We have to take care of our antibiotics”
Antimicrobials are easy accessible and widely used for preventing and controlling different infectious diseases in Tajikistan.
“At this point, we do not know whether the increased demand is a result of COVID-19,” said Dr Khadicha Boymatova from the WHO Country Office in Tajikistan. “However, to make sure that there is no further increase as a reaction to the COVID-19 outbreak, we put in place a half-day training to promote the rational use of antimicrobials and to remind health professionals that their use should be avoided in viral infections.”
The series of trainings was conducted in the Dushanbe City Medical Centre, the State Paediatric Infectious Diseases Hospital, the Shifobakhsh State Medical Centre and departments of Avicenna Tajik State Medical University between 25 and 28 February 2020.
The sessions focused on reminding participants of best practices for prescribing antibiotics. In the words of one participant, Paediatric Infectionist Dr Isfandiyor Nodirov, “Patients often request antibiotics. It is up to us to remain strong in our position and avoid prescribing when unnecessary.”
“During the training, we discussed different types of viruses, including COVID-19, the history of antibiotics, the Tajik typhoid epidemic of 1996 and the challenge of treating salmonella resistant to all relevant and available antibiotics at the time,” Dr Nodirov explained. “We have to take care of our antibiotics.”
National action plan on AMR
WHO is supporting Tajikistan in the implementation of the National Multisectoral Action Plan to Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 2018–2022, with a particular focus on 4 strategic areas:
- raising awareness and improving education on AMR;
- improving surveillance of the AMR situation and antimicrobial medicines use in Tajikistan;
- improving infection prevention and control through adequate measures for water use, supply, sanitation and hygiene; and
- achieving more rational use of antimicrobial medicines.