Antimicrobial resistance in Australia

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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) directly kills about 1,600 people each year in Australia. [1] This is a currently serious threat to both humans and animals in the country. [2] Antimicrobial resistance occurs when a microorganism (i.e. fungi, bacteria, viruses) evolves and gains the ability to become more resistant or completely resistant to the medicine that was previously used to treat it. [3] Drug-resistant bacteria are increasingly difficult to treat, requiring replacement or higher-dose drugs that may be more expensive or more toxic. [4] Resistance can develop through one of the three mechanisms: natural resistant ability in some types of microorganisms, a mutation in genes or receiving the resistance from another species. [5] Antibodies appear naturally due to random mutations, or more often after gradual accumulation over time, and because of abuse of antibiotics. [6] Multidrug-resistance, or MDR, are the microorganisms that are resistant to many types of antimicrobials. [3] "Superbugs" is the term also used for multidrug-resistant microbes, or totally drug-resistant (TDR). [4] [3]

Contents

Causes

Antimicrobial misuse

In October 2017, the Australian Government reported that the Australians were over-using antibiotic. [7] In 2015, Australian doctors dispensed over 30 million antimicrobial prescriptions via the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) or Repatriation PBS. [7] When antimicrobials are used to kill microbes, a small group of microbes survive. [8] Some, gaining the resistance gene, may still survive and are only weakened. As more antimicrobials of the same type taken, the surviving microorganisms start to gain resistance to it. The misuse of antimicrobials creates a natural selection condition under which those surviving ones have a chance to reproduce and the drug-resistant bacteria are more common. [6] When the recent dose does not affect anymore, it will have to require a higher dose to kill microbes. Over time, the bacteria will become resistant with that particular antimicrobial medication. [6] [8]

Genetic mutation

How drug-resistant gene mutation occurs in bacteria. This image represents how a genetic mutation occurs and develops into drug-resistant microbes. Antimicrobial resistance - mutation.gif
How drug-resistant gene mutation occurs in bacteria. This image represents how a genetic mutation occurs and develops into drug-resistant microbes.

Genetic Mutation is known as one of the natural causes of Antimicrobial Resistance. [8] Microorganisms can reproduce rapidly by replicating itself every period of time, which allowing them the ability to evolve and adapt to the changes in the environment. Every time a microbe goes into the reproduction process, there is a risk to have random errors in its genetic replication process, called mutation. [10] These mutations can either positively or negatively affect the microbe itself. The genetic mutation could give the microorganism the ability to adapt, become resistant to the antimicrobials which are being used to kill treat the disease. [8] [10] The drug-resistant bacteria reproduced and the gene of resistance become dominant and the population becomes resistance to the antimicrobials. [10]

Gene transfer

Horizontal Gene Transfer is a process in which the microorganisms are able to share their gene with each other. [8] [11] The known result for gene transfer is genetic variation and it could be a serious problem when they are also able to transfer the drug-resistance genes to each other. [8] Bacteria are able to share genetic information with each other via three mechanisms: conjugation, transduction and transformation. [12]

Mechanism

The effect of antimicrobials on microbes is disrupting the internal structures of the bacteria to stops them from reproducing or to kill them. [12] [13] The microbes can gain resistance to the drugs by changing the structures to prevent their actions. [12]

Preventing antimicrobial from reaching the target

Microorganisms can resist antimicrobials by preventing the drug from reaching its target. [12] Microbes can push away the antimicrobials out of the cell's body by creating pumps placed in the membrane, called efflux pumps. [12] These efflux pumps transport nutrient molecules in and out the cell and can be used to pump the antimicrobials out of the microbe. [13] Another mechanism to withstand the action of antimicrobials is reducing the cell membrane's permeability, preventing the drug get through the cell membrane. [12] The enzyme, β-lactamase, in some drug-resistant bacteria, has the ability to break down the active component in the penicillins. [12] [13] Bacteria can sometimes complicatedly modify the structure and components of the antimicrobials by producing enzymes so the antimicrobials can no longer interact with the microbe cell. [12] These enzymes may have the ability to add different chemical groups to the antimicrobials.[ citation needed ]

Modifying or bypassing the target

A microbe can modify its target by changing the composition or the structure, adding different chemical components to prevent the drug from reaching its target. [12] Some bacteria can produce an alternative protein which can replace the original proteins inhibited by the antibiotic. [12] Some bacteria can also reprogram its target by forming a different variant of a needed structure so the antibiotics cannot have action on it. [12]

Australian Government strategies

The Australian Department of Health and Department of Agriculture and Water Resources had worked together and released the first National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy 2015-2019 (the Strategy) in June 2015. [14] The Australian Government proposed the main strategies to respond to the threat of antimicrobial resistance, minimise its rapid development and control its spread. [15] The strategy of the Australian Government on AMR aligned with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Action Plan and provided the objectives for Australia's nation across the human health, animal health, agriculture and food sectors:

  1. Improve the knowledge of Australian people about AMR, its consequences and effective actions to counter it via effective communication, education and training. [15] This first key objective aims to raise the understanding of prescribers, patients, professional groups of human and animal health and the Australian general public about the antimicrobial resistance. [16] Improving the awareness of the causes and the consequences of the overuse of antimicrobials via effective communication and education is the first important step to constrain the spread and minimising the development of AMR. [15] [16]
  2. Implement effective antimicrobial management measures in human health and animal care facilities to ensure proper and appropriate prescription, distribution and management of antimicrobial medication. [15] The Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) refers to the coordinated actions designed to promote and improve the proper use of antimicrobial. [17] The optimal AMS programs are supported by guidelines, protocols and legal frameworks, including prescribing, providing and using antimicrobials and combining monitoring to measure effectiveness and improve the guidelines. [15]
  3. Develop One Health's nationwide surveillance of AMR and the use of antimicrobials. [15] The coordinated monitoring of the national use of antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance is necessary to understand the extent, distribution and impact of resistant organisms and antibacterial use, and identification of drug resistance and emerging trends, and determine the relationship between use and drug resistance. [15] [18] The monitoring data provides evidence to assess policies, set priorities and determine where to act immediately and where resources need to be addressed. [15]
  4. Improve infection prevention and control measures on human health and animal care facilities to help prevent infections and spread resistance. [15] Prevention and control of infections are recognised as an essential part of an effective response to AMR, especially when there may be limited or no alternative antibacterial treatments available. [19] Effective infection prevention and control (IPC), the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), equipment disinfection and sanitation are essential. [19] Improving and expanding evidence-based IPC measures implemented in all areas should be informed by monitoring data and consistent with the risk of transmission. [19]
  5. Agree on a national research program and promote investment in developing new products and approaches to contain, detect and contain AMR. [15] The promoting and prioritising investment in research and development can create new techniques and strategies to control and respond to antimicrobial resistance. [15] These research, including basic genetic and molecules studies, is crucial for investigating new therapeutic agents for alternating the antimicrobials, developing new diagnostic techniques and ways to reduce the use of antimicrobial. [20]
  6. Enhance international partnerships and cooperation on regional and global efforts to respond to AMR. [15] AMR is a global concern, which requires every country to have an action against it. The increasing international movement of people, animals, food and other products can raise the potential for antimicrobial resistance to spread rapidly around the world. [15] Without international cooperation, every country's efforts to fight AMR have limited effectiveness. Australian Government has aligned with the Global Action Plan (GAP), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) on responding to antimicrobial resistance. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antibiotic</span> Antimicrobial substance active against bacteria

An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections, and antibiotic medications are widely used in the treatment and prevention of such infections. They may either kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. A limited number of antibiotics also possess antiprotozoal activity. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses such as the ones which cause the common cold or influenza; drugs which inhibit growth of viruses are termed antiviral drugs or antivirals rather than antibiotics. They are also not effective against fungi; drugs which inhibit growth of fungi are called antifungal drugs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antimicrobial resistance</span> Resistance of microbes to drugs directed against them

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microbes evolve mechanisms that protect them from the effects of antimicrobials. All classes of microbes can evolve resistance where the drugs are no longer effective. Fungi evolve antifungal resistance, viruses evolve antiviral resistance, protozoa evolve antiprotozoal resistance, and bacteria evolve antibiotic resistance. Together all of these come under the umbrella of antimicrobial resistance. Microbes resistant to multiple antimicrobials are called multidrug resistant (MDR) and are sometimes referred to as superbugs. Although antimicrobial resistance is a naturally occurring process, it is often the result of improper usage of the drugs and management of the infections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drug resistance</span> Pathogen resistance to medications

Drug resistance is the reduction in effectiveness of a medication such as an antimicrobial or an antineoplastic in treating a disease or condition. The term is used in the context of resistance that pathogens or cancers have "acquired", that is, resistance has evolved. Antimicrobial resistance and antineoplastic resistance challenge clinical care and drive research. When an organism is resistant to more than one drug, it is said to be multidrug-resistant.

<i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> Species of bacterium

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative, non-motile, encapsulated, lactose-fermenting, facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium. It appears as a mucoid lactose fermenter on MacConkey agar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colistin</span> Antibiotic

Colistin, also known as polymyxin E, is an antibiotic medication used as a last-resort treatment for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections including pneumonia. These may involve bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, or Acinetobacter. It comes in two forms: colistimethate sodium can be injected into a vein, injected into a muscle, or inhaled, and colistin sulfate is mainly applied to the skin or taken by mouth. Colistimethate sodium is a prodrug; it is produced by the reaction of colistin with formaldehyde and sodium bisulfite, which leads to the addition of a sulfomethyl group to the primary amines of colistin. Colistimethate sodium is less toxic than colistin when administered parenterally. In aqueous solutions it undergoes hydrolysis to form a complex mixture of partially sulfomethylated derivatives, as well as colistin. Resistance to colistin began to appear as of 2015.

An antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms (microbicide) or stops their growth. Antimicrobial medicines can be grouped according to the microorganisms they act primarily against. For example, antibiotics are used against bacteria, and antifungals are used against fungi. They can also be classified according to their function. The use of antimicrobial medicines to treat infection is known as antimicrobial chemotherapy, while the use of antimicrobial medicines to prevent infection is known as antimicrobial prophylaxis.

Vancomycin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Antibiotica resistant bacteria

Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) are strains of Staphylococcus aureus that have acquired resistance to the glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin. Bacteria can acquire resistant genes either by random mutation or through the transfer of DNA from one bacterium to another. Resistance genes interfere with the normal antibiotic function and allow a bacteria to grow in the presence of the antibiotic. Resistance in VRSA is conferred by the plasmid-mediated vanA gene and operon. Although VRSA infections are uncommon, VRSA is often resistant to other types of antibiotics and a potential threat to public health because treatment options are limited. VRSA is resistant to many of the standard drugs used to treat S. aureus infections. Furthermore, resistance can be transferred from one bacterium to another.

Multiple drug resistance (MDR), multidrug resistance or multiresistance is antimicrobial resistance shown by a species of microorganism to at least one antimicrobial drug in three or more antimicrobial categories. Antimicrobial categories are classifications of antimicrobial agents based on their mode of action and specific to target organisms. The MDR types most threatening to public health are MDR bacteria that resist multiple antibiotics; other types include MDR viruses, parasites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antibiotic sensitivity testing</span> Microbiology test used in medicine

Antibiotic sensitivity testing or antibiotic susceptibility testing is the measurement of the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics. It is used because bacteria may have resistance to some antibiotics. Sensitivity testing results can allow a clinician to change the choice of antibiotics from empiric therapy, which is when an antibiotic is selected based on clinical suspicion about the site of an infection and common causative bacteria, to directed therapy, in which the choice of antibiotic is based on knowledge of the organism and its sensitivities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tetracycline antibiotics</span> Type of broad-spectrum antibiotic

Tetracyclines are a group of broad-spectrum antibiotic compounds that have a common basic structure and are either isolated directly from several species of Streptomyces bacteria or produced semi-synthetically from those isolated compounds. Tetracycline molecules comprise a linear fused tetracyclic nucleus to which a variety of functional groups are attached. Tetracyclines are named after their four ("tetra-") hydrocarbon rings ("-cycl-") derivation ("-ine"). They are defined as a subclass of polyketides, having an octahydrotetracene-2-carboxamide skeleton and are known as derivatives of polycyclic naphthacene carboxamide. While all tetracyclines have a common structure, they differ from each other by the presence of chloro, methyl, and hydroxyl groups. These modifications do not change their broad antibacterial activity, but do affect pharmacological properties such as half-life and binding to proteins in serum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medical microbiology</span> Branch of medical science

Medical microbiology, the large subset of microbiology that is applied to medicine, is a branch of medical science concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. In addition, this field of science studies various clinical applications of microbes for the improvement of health. There are four kinds of microorganisms that cause infectious disease: bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses, and one type of infectious protein called prion.

Enterococcus faecium is a Gram-positive, gamma-hemolytic or non-hemolytic bacterium in the genus Enterococcus. It can be commensal in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals, but it may also be pathogenic, causing diseases such as neonatal meningitis or endocarditis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antibiotic misuse</span>

Antibiotic misuse, sometimes called antibiotic abuse or antibiotic overuse, refers to the misuse or overuse of antibiotics, with potentially serious effects on health. It is a contributing factor to the development of antibiotic resistance, including the creation of multidrug-resistant bacteria, informally called "super bugs": relatively harmless bacteria can develop resistance to multiple antibiotics and cause life-threatening infections.

The host–pathogen interaction is defined as how microbes or viruses sustain themselves within host organisms on a molecular, cellular, organismal or population level. This term is most commonly used to refer to disease-causing microorganisms although they may not cause illness in all hosts. Because of this, the definition has been expanded to how known pathogens survive within their host, whether they cause disease or not.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antibiotic use in livestock</span> Use of antibiotics for any purpose in the husbandry of livestock

Antibiotic use in livestock is the use of antibiotics for any purpose in the husbandry of livestock, which includes treatment when ill (therapeutic), treatment of a group of animals when at least one is diagnosed with clinical infection (metaphylaxis), and preventative treatment (prophylaxis). Antibiotics are an important tool to treat animal as well as human disease, safeguard animal health and welfare, and support food safety. However, used irresponsibly, this may lead to antibiotic resistance which may impact human, animal and environmental health.

ESKAPE is an acronym comprising the scientific names of six highly virulent and antibiotic resistant bacterial pathogens including: Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp. The acronym is sometimes extended to ESKAPEE to include Escherichia coli. This group of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria can evade or 'escape' commonly used antibiotics due to their increasing multi-drug resistance (MDR). As a result, throughout the world, they are the major cause of life-threatening nosocomial or hospital-acquired infections in immunocompromised and critically ill patients who are most at risk. P. aeruginosa and S. aureus are some of the most ubiquitous pathogens in biofilms found in healthcare. P. aeruginosa is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, commonly found in the gut flora, soil, and water that can be spread directly or indirectly to patients in healthcare settings. The pathogen can also be spread in other locations through contamination, including surfaces, equipment, and hands. The opportunistic pathogen can cause hospitalized patients to have infections in the lungs, blood, urinary tract, and in other body regions after surgery. S. aureus is a Gram-positive, cocci-shaped bacterium, residing in the environment and on the skin and nose of many healthy individuals. The bacterium can cause skin and bone infections, pneumonia, and other types of potentially serious infections if it enters the body. S. aureus has also gained resistance to many antibiotic treatments, making healing difficult. Because of natural and unnatural selective pressures and factors, antibiotic resistance in bacteria usually emerges through genetic mutation or acquires antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) through horizontal gene transfer - a genetic exchange process by which antibiotic resistance can spread.

<i>Corynebacterium striatum</i> Species of bacterium

Corynebacterium striatum is a bacterium that is a member of the Corynebacterium genus. It is classified as non-diphtheritic. The bacterium is a gram-positive prokaryote that assumes a 'club-like' morphology, more formally known as a corynebacteria structure. It is non-lipophilic and undergoes aerobic respiration and is also a facultative anaerobe it is catalase negative and oxidase positive glucose and sucrose fermenter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antimicrobial spectrum</span> Method of assessing antibiotics

The antimicrobial spectrum of an antibiotic means the range of microorganisms it can kill or inhibit. Antibiotics can be divided into broad-spectrum antibiotics, extended-spectrum antibiotics and narrow-spectrum antibiotics based on their spectrum of activity. Detailedly, broad-spectrum antibiotics can kill or inhibit a wide range of microorganisms; extended-spectrum antibiotic can kill or inhibit Gram positive bacteria and some Gram negative bacteria; narrow-spectrum antibiotic can only kill or inhibit limited species of bacteria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multidrug-resistant bacteria</span>

Multidrug-resistant bacteria are bacteria that are resistant to three or more classes of antimicrobial drugs. MDR bacteria have seen an increase in prevalence in recent years and pose serious risks to public health. MDR bacteria can be broken into 3 main categories: Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and other (acid-stain). These bacteria employ various adaptations to avoid or mitigate the damage done by antimicrobials. With increased access to modern medicine there has been a sharp increase in the amount of antibiotics consumed. Given the abundant use of antibiotics there has been a considerable increase in the evolution of antimicrobial resistance factors, now outpacing the development of new antibiotics.

References

  1. ↑ McCaughey, Laura Christine (2018-09-03). "Five of the scariest antibiotic-resistant bacteria of the past five years". ABC News. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  2. ↑ "AMR in Australia". Antimicrobial resistance. 2017-07-14. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  3. 1 2 3 "What is AMR?". Antimicrobial resistance. 2017-07-25. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  4. 1 2 "Antimicrobial resistance". www.who.int. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  5. ↑ "How does AMR spread?". Antimicrobial resistance. 2017-07-14. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  6. 1 2 3 "What causes AMR?". Antimicrobial resistance. 2017-07-25. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  7. 1 2 "AMR and human health in Australia". Antimicrobial resistance. 2017-09-27. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Causes of Antimicrobial (Drug) Resistance | NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases". www.niaid.nih.gov. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  9. ↑ "Causes of Antimicrobial (Drug) Resistance | NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases". www.niaid.nih.gov. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
  10. 1 2 3 "Mutations and selection – Antibiotic resistance – ReAct". ReAct. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  11. ↑ "Transfer of antibiotic resistance – Antibiotic resistance – ReAct". ReAct. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Resistance mechanisms – Antibiotic resistance – ReAct". ReAct. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  13. 1 2 3 Munita, Jose M.; Arias, Cesar A. (April 2016). "Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance". Microbiology Spectrum. 4 (2): 481–511. doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.VMBF-0016-2015. ISBN   9781555819279. ISSN   2165-0497. PMC   4888801 . PMID   27227291.
  14. ↑ "Australia Releases First National AMR Strategy". Antibiotic Action. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Australia's First National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy 2015-2019". Australian Government Department of Health. June 2015.
  16. 1 2 "Objective 1: Communication, education and training". Antimicrobial resistance. 2017-06-06. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  17. ↑ "Objective 2: Antimicrobial stewardship". Antimicrobial resistance. 2017-06-06. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  18. ↑ "Objective 3: Surveillance of AMR and antibiotic usage". Antimicrobial resistance. 2017-06-06. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  19. 1 2 3 "Objective 4: Infection prevention and control". Antimicrobial resistance. 2017-06-06. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  20. ↑ "Objective 5: Research and development". Antimicrobial resistance. 2017-06-06. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  21. ↑ "Objective 6: International engagement and partnerships". Antimicrobial resistance. 2017-06-06. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
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