Medical students, butchers carrying bacteria in aprons

By Jemima Nambooze & Innocent Anguyo

Prof John Opuda-Asibo, the Executive Director for the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has lambasted butchers and medical students for spreading bacteria by carrying their aprons to their homes after work.

Opuda-Asibo took a swipe at Makerere medical students who continue using the same aprons long after completing their practical sessions- especially in hospitals, just to show off.
               
"Makerere University medical students will remain in their gowns as they walk back to their halls of residence from Mulago hospital. They do not know that bacteria attaches to their gowns. Butchers also go home with their gowns which at times picks bacteria from the butcheries and abattoirs," said Opuda-Asibo.
               
Opuda-Asibo made the remarks on Tuesday while speaking at the launch of a two-year pilot study on antimicrobial resistance in Uganda- conducted by the Makerere University College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Biosecurity (COVABS).

WHO warns against drug misuse
               
At the same function at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala, the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed profound concern over the growing misuse of antimicrobials (drugs) in both animal and human health, describing it as "imprudent".
               
Dr Awa Aidara-Kane, the leader of the WHO Advisory Group on Integrated Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (WHO-AGISAR) noted that the abuse of antimicrobials is spraining the efficacy of the fight against bacterial infections in both humans and animals.
               
Aidara-Kane said antibiotic resistance–when bacteria change so antibiotics no longer work in people who need them to treat infections–is now a major threat to public health.
              
"This is a big a big problem. We are seeing more common bacteria being resistant to treatment. We are starting to use antimicrobials that were not used before in human health because of their enormous side effects," said Aidara-Kane.

Old drugs reemerging

Owing to growing treatment resistance, Aidara-Kane cited Colistin as one the antibiotics that is fast making resurgence after being sidelined in the 1970s owing to its toxicity.
               
Colistin is an antibiotic approved in the late 1950s for the treatment of acute and chronic infections caused by certain sensitive strains of Gram-negative bacteria.

However, with antibacterial resistance on the rise, WHO notes colistin is increasingly being used today to treat severe, multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections, particularly among intensive care-based patients.

The problem with re-introducing an older drug, such as colistin, the U.S Department of Health and Human Services though notes, is that techniques for evaluating new drugs have evolved since the 1950s, and therefore, little is known about the dose needed to effectively fight infection while limiting the potential emergence of antimicrobial resistance and reducing potentially toxic side effects.
               
Drug resistance a global problem

Asked if drug resistance was a reserve for third-world countries like Uganda, Aidara-Kane revealed that "this serious threat is no longer a prediction for the future; it is happening right now in every region of the world and has the potential to affect anyone, of any age, in any country."

Aidara-Kane was speaking at the launch of a two-year pilot study on antimicrobial resistance in Uganda- conducted by the Makerere University College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Biosecurity (COVABS).
               
Prof Paula Cray from North Carolina State University (NCSU) who is offering technical support in the pilot study said Uganda's input in the understanding of the complex subject of antimicrobials resistance is needed since "it takes everybody to make the global whole."
               
"This is an issue we should all be scared about. There aren't as many drugs coming to the market as they did," Said Cray.

Study to generate data to inform policy formulation
               
Dr Francis Ejobi, the Principal Investigator said their ultimate goal is to generate data which will be used to inform policy formulation meant to contain antimicrobial resistance. During the study, the capacity of COVABS laboratory will also be enhanced.

Dr Ernest Okello-Ogwang, the acting Makerere University Vice Chancellor revealed that the project will strengthen the capacity of the institution to conduct research on foodborne anti-microbial resistance in Uganda,

"The data generated from this project will provide key evidence required to support national policies and actions for containment of resistance arising from use of anti-microbial drugs in food producing animals within the country," reiterated Ogwang.