The Faculty of Pharmacy Commemorates Antimicrobial Resistance Scientific Day
In cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Ministry of Health, and on the occasion of World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week, the Faculty of Pharmacy organized a scientific day entitled:
“Antimicrobial Resistance: Challenges and Prospects – Towards Safe and Informed Use.” The event was attended by the University President, Professor Dr. Ammar Nasser Agha, and a number of professors and students from the Faculties of Pharmacy and Dentistry.
The scientific day included two specialized lectures:
The first, presented by Dr. Rana Habib, addressed global challenges related to antibiotic resistance and ways to promote its rational use.
It focused on the following topics:
The concept of antibiotic resistance, its causes, and its main mechanisms.
The spread of antibiotic resistance worldwide and its current classification as a silent pandemic and a global health problem.
The prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Syria.
A presentation of the results of graduation project research conducted at the International Private University’s Faculty of Pharmacy on antibiotic resistance and the risks of indiscriminate antibiotic use to public health. The main strategies for promoting the proper use of antibiotics and the role of medical personnel in reducing antibiotic resistance and its spread through rational antibiotic use and raising community awareness, as well as the main global guidelines for strategies to combat antibiotic resistance.
For his part, Professor Dr. Khalil Qutli reviewed the latest laboratory techniques in testing bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics and their role in improving treatment accuracy. He highlighted the importance of monitoring the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains, especially multidrug-resistant bacteria, and the impact of indiscriminate and repeated antibiotic use on the immune system. He also discussed bacterial resistance genes and their vertical and horizontal distribution among different bacterial strains, emphasizing the importance of studying and evaluating bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics, and comparing the results of traditional and modern methods. He further pointed out the principles of modern methods using molecular biology, including PCR, mass spectrometry, flow cytometry, fluorescence, chemiluminescence, bioluminescence, turbidity testing, colorimetry, flow cytometry, mirror arrays, and genetic probes. This event is part of the College of Pharmacy’s efforts to raise scientific awareness and promote a culture of responsible antibiotic use, in line with national and global trends to curb the rise of antimicrobial resistance.
It is worth noting that World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week is held annually to raise awareness of the dangers of the irrational use of antibiotics and to strengthen the role of educational and health institutions in disseminating this awareness.
