Pfizer Pakistan in recognition of World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW), 12–18 November 2018, today reaffirms its commitment to working with industry partners and policymakers to help prevent and combat the global public health threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Medical experts, including the World Health Organization (WHO), agree that if no action is taken, AMR is estimated to result in approximately 10 million deaths globally each year by 2050.¹

AMR can affect anyone, of any age, in any country. It occurs when pathogens change and find ways to resist the effects of antibiotics. The pathogens survive, grow and spread their resistance.¹ This process of adaptation leads to AMR.¹ If no solution is found, the consequences of AMR could be devastating. Minor infections and injuries could become life-threating, and serious infections such as pneumonia could become impossible to treat. Further, many routine medical procedures could be too risky to perform because of the risk of becoming infected while in the hospital by a multi-drug resistant pathogen.1

SM Wajeeh, Country Manager for Pfizer Pakistan said; “We at Pfizer are fully cognizant of this important issue of Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) and have been working with relevant stakeholders to make our contribution towards managing it. On the occasion of World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2018, we are pleased to partner up with MMIDSP, which is leading the way for creating awareness on AMR in Pakistan. Pfizer core values remain focused on our patient’s wellness, and we are working together on projects that positively impact overall health in Pakistan.”

Dr. Aamer Ikram, President of MMIDSP said on this occasion: “MMIDSP takes the pride in launching the initiatives in the country to curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through “Antibiotic Stewardship Initiative in Pakistan (ASIP)”. The Society has organized multiple events in collaboration with Pfizer Pakistan for creating awareness and imparting training at both institutional and community levels to address the injudicious overuse of antibiotics with ever increasing AMR. It has reached out to major stakeholders, professional societies and policymakers within and outside the government for collaboration in tackling AMR at a national level. Many national and provincial initiatives have been taken across Pakistan. On this World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2018, MME DSP appeals to all stakeholders that it is our responsibility to join hands in these national efforts to end the menace of AMR.”

As one of the leading global providers of anti-infective medicines, Pfizer is committed to working closely with the infectious disease community to address AMR, through:[i]

• Active stewardship to support education efforts for both healthcare professionals and the general public, by offering training and education to raise public awareness of AMR. Pfizer Pakistan conducted the SHAPES Critical Care educational summit to address the Antimicrobial-resistant and the stewardship program to highlight the disease burden and critical care patient management.
• Innovative surveillance tools such as the Antimicrobial Testing Leadership and Surveillance (ATLAS) database which provides physicians and the global health community with free access to critical data on the efficacy of various antibiotic treatments and emerging resistance patterns in more than 70 countries.[ii]^,[iii] In January 2018, the Access to Medicines Benchmark Report on AMR noted that Pfizer’s ATLAS program “stands out among all AMR surveillance programs,” as it is completely accessible to the infectious disease community.”[iv]
• Global policy leadership to facilitate antibiotic and vaccine development, access and proper use, and partnering with governments and organizations to address AMR. Pfizer Pakistan partnered with Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Society of Pakistan (MMIDSP) and other medical institutions to combat the challenges of AMR Microbial resistant and implementation of AMS.
• Expanding its diverse portfolio of anti-infective medicines and vaccines to help treat and prevent serious infections around the world. Today, Pfizer is one of the leading providers of anti-infective medicines, offering patients access to a diverse portfolio of more than 80 potentially life-saving medicines. This includes 45 antibiotics that are currently included on the WHO’s essential medicines list⁶ and innovative vaccines that have been proven to help reduce reliance on antibiotics.
• Applying responsible manufacturing practices that minimize impact to human health and the environment.

In addition to the efforts being undertaken by the infectious disease community, there are things individuals can do every day to help prevent the development and mitigate the spread of AMR. First, don’t take any medicine, especially antibiotics, unless you need them. For example, antibiotics – which target bacteria – are ineffective in treating the common cold, which is most often caused by a virus. If you are prescribed an antibiotic, make sure to take it exactly as instructed by your doctor. Finish the course of medicine, don’t miss any doses, and don’t take medicines prescribed for someone else. Keeping up to date with your vaccinations also reduces the chance that you’ll catch an infection that needs to be treated with an antimicrobial.