Today's Edition
Khaled Al Khawaldeh (Abu Dhabi)
A new form of microorganisms with the ability to build resistance to traditional antibiotics have the medical industry racing to find ways to prevent and limit their impact. Known as “superbugs”, these resilient bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites have far-reaching implications for healthcare systems and the general population, but doctors at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi are working on the forefront of both preventing and limiting their ramifications.
“Bacterial resistance is a naturally occurring phenomenon, resulting from genetic mutations in bacteria. The key challenge is antibiotic exposure, whether appropriate or inappropriate, due to abuse, misuse, and overuse,” Dr. Claude Afif, a Staff Physician with expertise in Infectious Diseases at the Medical Subspecialties Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, told Aletihad.
“These relentless microbes adapt to survive, passing their resistance genes to offspring and even other bacterial species. When these organisms accumulate resistance to multiple antibiotic classes, they earn the ominous title of superbugs.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, with superbugs causing an estimated 700,000 deaths worldwide each year. The rise of superbugs is largely attributed to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in both medical settings and agriculture. Studies indicate antibiotics prescribed in hospitals are unnecessary or inappropriate, contributing to the development of resistance. Furthermore, the agricultural sector uses antibiotics extensively for livestock growth promotion and disease prevention, further accelerating the spread of resistant bacteria through food and water sources.
The fear for the medical system is that the rise in the bugs will ultimately lead to escalated medical costs, prolonged hospital stays, and increased mortality. This prompted Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi to escalate its battle against bacterial resistance and infectious disease, recently earning it recognition as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence, a distinguished accolade presented by the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
“Although we cannot completely avoid getting an infection, there are steps that we can follow in order to reduce the risk and, when it comes to diagnosis, early detection is crucial. Identification of bacterial infection through culture and molecular testing is essential,” Dr. Afif explained.
He underscored that whilst everyone is susceptible to contracting one of these viruses, people who had recently taken antibiotics, or underlying health conditions were most at risk. He said doctors were being increasingly “judicious” with their prescription of antibiotics and were taking more care to ensure the right “agent, dose, route, and duration” were being selected.
On an optimistic note, Dr Afif said that several promising treatments and alternative methods to fighting superbugs were on the horizon. This includes vaccines that may reduce antibiotic use and fecal microbiota transplants which restore disrupted gut microbiomes caused by antibiotics.
“A typical example is pneumococcal vaccine. We have witnessed a significant decrease in resistant strains since the introduction of this vaccine in children and older adults. Bacteriophages are viruses targeting drug-resistant bacteria and are another alternative to antibiotics which are being researched presently,” he said.
