Topic:
Country: Romania
Delegate Name: Allison Edwards
United Nations World Health Organization
Antibiotic Resistance
Romania
Allison Edwards, Forest Hills Northern High School
Romania has educated many countries on the complexities of antibiotic resistance. Romania has experienced many difficulties regarding the issue of antibiotics; such as their dangerously high levels of antimicrobial resistance (also known as AMR). These levels indicate when certain bacterias are unable to be treated due to overuse. Many casualties have resulted from such circumstances and Romania is taking proactive steps to lessen the levels of AMR.
In Romania, antibiotics are often over-prescribed or used for a prolonged period of time. This goes against the recommended use since bacteria can become resistant to those drugs that are needed most. Cephalosporins, a common type of antibiotic, are overconsumed. This has led to a problem that Romania has been facing for the last five years – clostridium difficile infection, which can happen due to the overuse of antibiotics.
Romania is combating this issue alongside the ECDC (European Centre for Disease Control). A meeting was held on the issue of AMR in February and March of 2019. Throughout this meeting, the One Health approach was discussed. The One Health approach is the collaborative effort of multiple health science professions to attain optimal health for people, domestic animals, wildlife, plants, and our environment. The drivers of antimicrobial resistance include antimicrobial use and abuse in human, animal, and environmental sectors and the spread of resistant bacteria and resistance determinants within and between these sectors and around the globe (McEwen and Collignon).
One of the many implementations that the One Health Approach brought was halting the inappropriate use of antibiotics. Additionally, Romania aims to strengthen the program through the prevention of infection, and the reduction of over-prescription. Not only is Romania taking these steps but many countries in the EU are as well implementing these strategies.
