What do patients with long-term lung conditions think about antimicrobial resistance?

Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses or fungi change over time and can avoid being killed by medicines that would usually treat them. This is a growing global health threat. People with long-term lung conditions such as bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis or asthma often need medication, known as antibiotics, antivirals or antifungals, to manage infections and symptoms.

Over time, if this kind of medicine is used incorrectly or overused across whole populations, the bugs it targets can develop so that they can resist the medication.

Despite the importance of this issue, little is known about how people with long-term lung conditions understand AMR, how it affects them and what their concerns are.

What did the study look at?

The AMR-Lung Clinical Research Collaboration, in partnership with the European Lung Foundation (ELF), carried out a global online survey to understand patients’ experiences and views on AMR. The survey was translated into 20 languages and shared over 2 months. It included 39 questions about health, antibiotic use, awareness of AMR and personal priorities.

Over 2,000 people from 57 countries responded. Most had long-term lung conditions such as bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis or asthma. The survey also included responses from caregivers, particularly for children and people with limited computer access.

What did the results show?

The survey revealed several important findings:

• Nearly 1 in 3 people said they had experienced an infection linked to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• Around 1 in 5 had used antibiotics without a medical prescription.
• About 1 in 10 felt their last course of antibiotics did not work or was prescribed too late.
• People from high-income countries were more likely to be aware of AMR and less likely to misuse antibiotics compared with those in lower-income settings.

Although most respondents viewed AMR as a serious global and personal threat, many had not heard of it before taking part in the survey.

The majority of respondents wanted more information about AMR, particularly on how to prevent resistance, understand the risks and recognise when antibiotics are really needed.

Why is this important?

This is the first global study to look at how people with long-term lung conditions experience and view AMR. It shows that AMR is already affecting many people and that awareness and access to information vary greatly across the world.

By listening to patients, the AMR-Lung Clinical Research Collaboration aims to support a more informed and safer use of antibiotics. These findings will help improve education, guide future research and shape healthcare policies that reflect the needs and concerns of patients most affected by AMR.

Read the paper: Patients’ perspectives on antimicrobial resistance in chronic respiratory disease: an AMR-Lung – European Lung Foundation global patient survey