Winter has arrived and that certainly means one thing – respiratory tract infection season is upon us.
November 30, 2006 (Press Release) --
Toronto, Ontario, November 30, 2006 – Winter has arrived and that certainly means one thing – respiratory tract infection season is upon us. Canadians make over 1.5 million physician visits annually for acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis alone, or a visit every 20 seconds . And pneumonia can strike all age groups, with its incidence rising to as many as 17 in every 1,000 among senior citizens .
While there are several antibiotic treatments for these infections, physicians are cautioning that there is an urgent need for new options. “The problem is a lack of new in class antibiotics over the last few years, as well as resistance to proven antibiotics is growing. Bottom-line, there are not enough new drugs to kill bugs,” says Dr. Charles Chan, Respirologist at Toronto General Hospital.
“Many strains of the most common bacteria that cause respiratory infections are now resistant to certain antibiotics and this can complicate treatment, ” Dr. Chan says. “The strains that are out there are putting pressure on existing antibiotics.”
Indeed, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. have called antibiotic resistance one of the world’s most pressing public health problems. Superbugs, which were once only found in hospitals, are now pre-sent in the community. And these infections don’t respond to common antibiotics. “There’s an urgent quest for new antibiotics that can fight the growing number of drug resistant infections,” says Dr. George Zhanel, Respirologist at Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre.
As well, antibiotics are often used in an inappropriate fashion, which has led to a recent increase of bacteria that have become resistant to common antibiotics that are prescribed to fight infections. “Antibiotics are not required for colds, sore throats, flu, or when bronchitis is caused by a virus, but patients often demand them and unfortunately physicians sometimes comply,” Dr. Chan notes. When an antibiotic is used inappropriately, the bacteria can become resistant to it, thus rendering the antibiotic useless against it.
For these reasons, there is a real need for new antibiotics to fight the bugs of today and tomorrow. Dr. Zhanel says, “It’s always good to have a big armamentarium available, because the bigger your treatment armamentarium the greater your chance of fighting existing strains and of lessening the odds that resistance will increase. We need to be armed and ready to deal with the bugs that are among us, as well as those that may emerge.”
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For more information, please contact Karisma Communications
Tiana DiMichele, ext. 242
While there are several antibiotic treatments for these infections, physicians are cautioning that there is an urgent need for new options. “The problem is a lack of new in class antibiotics over the last few years, as well as resistance to proven antibiotics is growing. Bottom-line, there are not enough new drugs to kill bugs,” says Dr. Charles Chan, Respirologist at Toronto General Hospital.
“Many strains of the most common bacteria that cause respiratory infections are now resistant to certain antibiotics and this can complicate treatment, ” Dr. Chan says. “The strains that are out there are putting pressure on existing antibiotics.”
Indeed, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. have called antibiotic resistance one of the world’s most pressing public health problems. Superbugs, which were once only found in hospitals, are now pre-sent in the community. And these infections don’t respond to common antibiotics. “There’s an urgent quest for new antibiotics that can fight the growing number of drug resistant infections,” says Dr. George Zhanel, Respirologist at Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre.
As well, antibiotics are often used in an inappropriate fashion, which has led to a recent increase of bacteria that have become resistant to common antibiotics that are prescribed to fight infections. “Antibiotics are not required for colds, sore throats, flu, or when bronchitis is caused by a virus, but patients often demand them and unfortunately physicians sometimes comply,” Dr. Chan notes. When an antibiotic is used inappropriately, the bacteria can become resistant to it, thus rendering the antibiotic useless against it.
For these reasons, there is a real need for new antibiotics to fight the bugs of today and tomorrow. Dr. Zhanel says, “It’s always good to have a big armamentarium available, because the bigger your treatment armamentarium the greater your chance of fighting existing strains and of lessening the odds that resistance will increase. We need to be armed and ready to deal with the bugs that are among us, as well as those that may emerge.”
- ### -
For more information, please contact Karisma Communications
Tiana DiMichele, ext. 242
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