Suchergebnisse

On 15 October 2020, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Souha Kanj received a Radboud honorary doctorate in recognition of her achievements in the field of infection control and prevention, efforts in antimicrobial stewardship, and research on various infectious diseases, particularly antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria. This edition includes the laudatio and the speech of our honorary doctor.
Kanj published the first overview of antibiotic resistance in Arab countries and discovered differences between neighboring countries in the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance. She also developed infection prevention monitoring and education programs for healthcare workers, and private organizations in the Arab world. Thanks to her efforts, Lebanon has signed the WHO pledge for hand hygiene.
Kanj is not only commended for her expertise, didactic skills, and contribution to medicine, but also for her resilience and strong belief in making a positive impact, despite the difficult journey she has been through, having studied during the Lebanese civil war and being faced with numerous challenges that hit Lebanon and the region after that.

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to worsen the global problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). There is a heightened interest in understanding this effect and to develop antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions accordingly to curb this threat. Our paper aims to evaluate the potential magnitude of COVID-19 on AMR and AMS with a focus on the countries of the Arab league, given the social, political, and economic environments. We also evaluate obstacles in applying the rational use of antibiotics, monitoring resistance trends in the midst of the pandemic, and evaluating the impact of the economic crisis in some countries. We aim to raise awareness about the potential effects of antibiotic overuse during the pandemic and to propose practical approaches to tackle this issue.

On January 2020, the WHO Director General declared that the outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The world has faced a worldwide spread crisis and is still dealing with it. The present paper represents a white paper concerning the tough lessons we have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, an international and heterogenous multidisciplinary panel of very differentiated people would like to share global experiences and lessons with all interested and especially those responsible for future healthcare decision making. With the present paper, international and heterogenous multidisciplinary panel of very differentiated people would like to share global experiences and lessons with all interested and especially those responsible for future healthcare decision making.