Topic: Rise of Antibiotic Resistant Pathogens
Country: Egypt
Delegate Name: Stacey Mulka
School: Roeper School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Egypt position papers GLIMUN 2010 committees
As a developing country, Egypt is concerned about the risk of antibiotic resistant pathogens. Data on antimicrobial resistance is scarce in Egypt but between 1999-2000 research was conducted at 5 separate hospitals in Cairo. High rates of resistance to certain antibiotics were found in strains of Streptococcus pneumonia and Enterococcus. From this study it was concluded that citizen’s resistance to penicillin is comparable to other developed nations such as the US. Gram-negative bacilli was also found to be resistant to antibiotics. After this study, a nationwide surveillance program was enacted to monitor antimicrobial resistance patterns.
In a study done by Egypt’s National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries on Nutritive and Antimicrobial Profiles of some Seagrasses from Bardwil Lake, Egypt, Cymodocea nodosa and Ruppia cirrhosa were tested as antimicrobial compounds. Cymodocea nodosa and Ruppia cirrhosa are both seagrasses found in the Bardwil Lake. Ethanol was extracted from both these substances and was found to be active against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.
Egypt has done other extensive work in this area, but has been unable to make progress in the past half decade. Without significant assistance (primarily financial but also technical) by outside partners, such as international organizations like the WHO, partnerships with developed nations health bodies, such as the USA’s NIH or CDC, support from the African Union Health committee, or private pharmaceutical corporations, these promising antimicrobials cannot be developed further. Egypt is aware that other developing nations have done similar promising research in antimicrobials, but have been hampered by the same problems.
The UN and WHO need to work with developing nations to take research out of the laboratory and into tests, and provide a process for practical implementation of the findings made by able health scientists of all nations, no matter their funding limitations. Egypt is ready to work with all nations to form resolutions that will allow the knowledge and innovation of health scientists of all nations to help benefit humankind. Together we can stop the spread of antibiotic resistant pathogens and make use of new discoveries that will stop the growth of these pathogens.
