Eighth UAE International Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance Concludes

According to Amac News; the conference focused on strengthening the "One Health" approach to combat antimicrobial resistance through collaboration among human, animal, and environmental health sectors, as well as raising awareness of the risks of antimicrobial resistance among workers in related fields.
Dr. Najiba Abdul Razzaq, consultant internal medicine and president of the conference, stated that speakers warned against the use of antibiotics as soon as respiratory symptoms or colds are felt, except when prescribed by a doctor, as more than 90% of these cases are caused by viruses. She explained that antibiotics cannot eliminate these infections; on the contrary, they harm the user by promoting antibiotic resistance in pathogens and increasing the risk of contracting resistant bacteria.
Conference participants emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the correct use of antibiotics, which poses a major challenge for health policymakers. Lack of awareness increases the ability of pathogenic bacteria and infections to resist antibiotics, rendering them ineffective and threatening the medical advancements that the world is currently experiencing.
The two-day conference addressed topics such as early diagnosis using artificial intelligence, innovative treatments, effective strategies for infection control and reducing antibiotic resistance, ways to prevent and treat diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant germs, opportunities and modern technologies to reduce deaths associated with antimicrobial resistance, challenges facing physicians in this field, and global trends and challenges related to antibiotic resistance.
Discussions also focused on advances in diagnostic techniques, innovative therapies, and effective strategies for antimicrobial stewardship, as well as exploring the role of behavioral science in shaping human behavior to achieve better outcomes in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
The conference aimed to promote knowledge sharing, collaboration, innovation, and action for a future where antimicrobial resistance is effectively managed and infection control becomes a global standard that protects global health.
Dr. Najiba described antimicrobial resistance as a "silent epidemic," noting that when antibiotics are prescribed, patients are typically expected to improve. However, this smooth transition from illness to recovery has become difficult due to the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance. She added that in the next 25 years, drug-resistant diseases are expected to cause about 39 million deaths.