Monday, 31 May 2021 - 14:00

Special Focus Dialogue: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) | UICC

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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR): A threat to future cancer treatments and the role of health and care workers

Overview

Over the last decades, there has been significant progress in cancer care, with key advances across the core pillars of surgery, radiotherapy and medicines, including new immunotherapies. However, the significant and growing threat of drug-resistant bacteria can undermine all the above-mentioned efforts of cancer treatment. Surgery and treatments like bone marrow transplants, radiotherapy and chemotherapy put the immune system under immense pressure and people with cancer are susceptible to infections.

Antibiotics are a key and indispensable part of cancer treatment. As many as 1 in 5 cancer patients undergoing treatment are hospitalised due to infection, and antibiotics are the main line of defence. Pneumonia and sepsis are among the most frequent causes of admission to intensive care units for cancer patients. In fact, it is estimated that 8.5% of cancer deaths are due to severe sepsis.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), when microorganisms change and are still able to grow when they are exposed to antimicrobial drugs meant to kill or limit their growth, is a growing public health issue and needs urgent attention in countries around the world. Overuse and misuse of antimicrobial medicines are among the major factors that have contributed to the development of drug resistant microbes. Examples of misuse include when they are taken by people with viral infections like colds and flu, and when they are given as growth promoters in animals or used to prevent diseases in healthy animals. Patients with infections caused by these drug-resistant bacteria are at an increased risk of poorer clinical outcomes, which could be fatal. AMR also causes a strain on health systems.

There is urgent need to address the critical issue of AMR that could roll back progress made to date in cancer treatment, the time to act is now.

Health care workers are crucial in the war against AMR. A high awareness of AMR and knowledge of actions that can minimise spread of infections as well as avoiding misuse of antibiotic among are necessary. Health care professionals can lead on this topic to increase the sense of urgency towards decision-makers and by inspiring colleagues. 

Objectives

The objective of this session was to highlight the threat AMR poses to improved cancer care outcomes. Discussions focused on the need to increase awareness on AMR as a key issue for global health, especially among health care workers within cancer care. The aim is to clarify the most central calls to action on a global level to stop the silent pandemic of AMR and so ensure effective treatments for today and tomorrow's cancer patients.

Recording

Speakers

  • Ulrika Årehed Kågström, Secretary General, Swedish Cancer Society and UICC Board Member (Chair of the session)
  • Lena Hallengren, Minister for Health and Social Affairs, Sweden and member of the One Health Global Leaders Group
  • Thomas Joseph, Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness and Stewardship, World Health Organization (WHO)
  • Heidi Stensmyren, President Elect, World Medical Association
  • Mirfin Mpundu, Director, ReAct Africa
  • Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti, Regional Ambassador for Africa, International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC)
  • Paolo Guglielmetti, Principal Administrator, European Commission, Public Health Directorate

This Virtual Dialogue is held in collaboration with the Swedish Cancer Society

 

Event Information

Organiser
Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)
Date and time
Email
membership@uicc.org
Location

Virtual event - online
1202 Geneve
Switzerland

Last update

Thursday 13 July 2023

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