The healthcare industry is at a critical juncture in the fight against infections. Antibiotic resistance continues to rise, posing a significant threat to current medical practices. One potential solution that benefits patients, providers, and payers alike is preventive antimicrobials.
Preventive antimicrobials are designed to stop infections before they start. This approach differs from traditional antibiotics, which are used only after an infection has already begun. The rise of antibiotic resistance adds urgency to finding new solutions. Developing modern antibiotics is becoming increasingly challenging due to the dismal economics of drug development.
Preventive antimicrobials offer several advantages over traditional antibiotics. From a business perspective, these drugs provide better value for patients and healthcare systems. They generate substantial savings by preventing costly infections, making them attractive to payers and providers. Patients also prefer preventive measures over treatment, especially those in underprivileged groups who suffer disproportionately from antibiotic-resistant infections.
Preventive antimicrobials are more economically viable than conventional antibiotics due to their larger customer base. This includes anyone at risk of contracting a disease, not just those actively suffering from it. For instance, Lumen Bioscience’s investigational drug LMN-201 has potential utility for all patients at significant risk of near-term infections.
Implementing preventive antimicrobials will require careful consideration. Developing new tools to rapidly identify patients who will benefit most is crucial. Safety is also a primary concern due to the need to give the drug to individuals who may not yet be ill. Side effects and bystander resistance are two reasons why conventional antibiotics are not used prophylactically.
The experience with LMN-201 demonstrates that biologics can be safer and faster to develop than traditional antibiotics. As advancing technology makes preventive antimicrobials more widely available, it will necessitate innovation in practice patterns.
While promising, the shift towards preventive antimicrobials faces challenges. Healthcare systems need to adapt reimbursement structures to incentivize prevention over treatment. Providers and patients must also adopt a prevention-focused approach rather than a treatment-focused one.
The benefits of preventive antimicrobials could be profound. Preventing infections alone accounts for billions annually in US hospital spending. When accounting for indirect costs like quality-adjusted life-years, premature mortality, and caregiver burden, the true societal cost is far higher. Preventive antimicrobials represent a significant opportunity in our fight against antibiotic resistance.
By stopping infections before they start, we can reduce antibiotics use, improve patient outcomes, and cut costs – all at once. Combined with responsible antibiotic use and continued research, we can work towards a future where infectious diseases are even less of a threat to public health.
Source: https://www.medicaleconomics.com/view/preventive-antimicrobials-a-promising-solution-to-antibiotic-resistance