Gibraltar “not immune” to growing antimicrobial resistance threat, warns GHA Consultant

The GHA’s Consultant Medical Microbiologist has warned that Gibraltar is not immune to the negative effects of antimicrobial resistance.

Dr Nick Cortes' comments come after it was announced Gibraltar is hosting an Overseas Territories Antimicrobial Resistance course, with the support of the UK Health Security agency.

It will bring together public health leaders, clinicians and policy officials to try and tackle the issue.

Dr Nick Cortes described antimicrobial resistance as a ‘slow burning global pandemic’ that is already having a ‘real adverse impact on health across the world’. It occurs when bacteria and other micro-organisms evolve to resist the medicines used to treat infections, making common illnesses harder to treat and increasing the risk of severe disease, complications and death.

Director of Public Health, Dr Helen Carter, said it is an ‘escalating health threat that requires sustained action across borders’ and that hosting the course was an important opportunity to share expertise.  The programme is set to focus on surveillance, infection prevention and control.