PESHAWAR: The Institute of Basic Medical Sciences (IBMS) and Public Health Reference Laboratory (PHRL), Khyber Medical University (KMU), in collaboration with the Dosti Welfare Organisation organised an antimicrobial awareness seminar to mark the end of the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, 2022.

A statement issued here said that panelists on this occasion highlighted the global issue of antibiotic resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death.

As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat, said the statement.

During the panel discussion, Prof Dr Rubina Nazli, dean of IBMS Khyber Medical University, talked about the clinical perspectives of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, while Dr Sumaira Afzal, director of the Center of Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Peshawar, spoke about antibiotics and the mechanism of resistance to antibiotics.

KMU registrar Prof Dr Mohammad Saleem Gandapur was the chief guest. The seminar moderated by Dr Taj Ali Khan was attended by more than 300 participants.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2022