Kathy Oxtoby asks what optometrists need to know about antimicrobial resistance.
Once antibiotics were seen as a cure-all. Now, says England’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Professor Dame Sally Davies, there is the potential for a “post-antibiotic apocalypse”, and leading health experts say growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a threat “bigger than cancer”.
Optometrists are certainly not a cause of, or a significant contributor to, the problem of AMR. However, it is very important for optometrists, both those with and without independent prescribing (IP) qualifications, to be aware of the issues around AMR and the part that you can play in tackling the problem.
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We are pleased to announce that each nation's health system has confirmed that they support a move to the ‘Green’ phase on Tuesday 10 May 2022. From then, the College’s COVID-19 Amber phase guidance will no longer apply in all UK nations.
This outlines a COVID-19 Urgent Eyecare Service delivered from a network of optical practices, acting as urgent eye care hubs, to support the immediate and recovery phase of the coronavirus pandemic.