Antibiotic-resistant infections are rising

THE NUMBER of people admitted to hospital with antibiotic-resistant infections has risen sharply in Leicestershire.

Figures from NHS Digital show that there were an estimated 1,265 cases of antimicrobial resistance in hospitals and other treatment centres across Leicestershire in 2018-19.

That’s up by 45% from the roughly 870 admissions seen across our area in 2017-18.

The figures include bacterial infections that have become resistant to antibiotics, as well as viruses, fungal infections, and parasitic infections that can no longer be treated by usual means.

Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem.

Misuse and over-prescribing of antibiotic drugs is creating resistant strains of bacteria against which none of our current medicines work - and scientists aren’t developing new ones fast enough.

That might eventually mean we return to an age before antibiotics - where people were less likely to survive common infections.

An NHS spokesperson said: “Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most serious health challenges facing every country in the world, and a failure to tackle it will mean an increasing impact on both individuals and services.

“The NHS is already playing a leading role, reducing the use of antibiotics by over 10% since 2013, and our Long Term Plan aims to achieve an additional 15% reduction over the next four years.”

University Hospitals Of Leicester NHS Trust saw the largest increase in cases in our area.

The number of admissions of patients with drug resistant infections rose 48% in the last year, with roughly 1,195 cases recorded.

That’s up from around 810 in 2017-18, and around 750 cases five years ago.

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust saw roughly 70 cases - up from 60 the previous year.

Figures are rounded to the nearest five for each trust in order to protect patient confidentiality.

The rise in anti drug resistant infections in recent years has come despite GPs in our area prescribing fewer antibiotics.