clinical focus
Antibiotic misuse
“ Worrying ” antimicrobial resistance in Adelaide aged care home
By Erin Morley
A wastewater sample analysis of three Adelaide aged care homes revealed two have residents with concerning levels of bacterial resistance against antibiotics .
The study of 300 residents published last Wednesday found one home had high antimicrobial resistance ( AMR ) against ceftazidime , cefepime and ciprofloxacin , and another had
18 agedcareinsite . com . au above average levels of resistance to gentamicin .
These medications are used to treat infections such as pneumonia and urinary and respiratory tract infections , and other health issues like bone and joint pain .
AMR is mainly caused by the over-prescription and use of antibiotics , which allows bacteria in the body to slowly build resistance to the drugs , whilst good bacteria that fights disease is also being destroyed by the medication .
Researcher Dr Rietie Venter , associate professor of clinical and health services at the University of South Australia , said these findings highlight the need for surveillance of possible antibiotic misuse .
“ Antimicrobial resistance is projected to lead to 300 million deaths worldwide by 2060 , and aged care residents are among the most vulnerable due to frequent , inappropriate use of medicines ,” Dr Venter said .
“[ The resistance can also ] lengthen illness recovery times , especially for immunocompromised people who make up a high proportion of people in aged care homes .”