Dr Manal Mohammed, Lecturer in Medical Microbiology, delivered a talk at Westminster’s Difference Festival about antibiotic resistance and superbugs.
At the lecture, she spoke about superbugs, which are germs that become resistant to antibiotics such as tuberculosis, MRSA and salmonellosis, making them difficult or sometimes impossible to treat.
Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem, which is estimated to cause 10 million deaths per year by 2050. We are on the cusp of a post-antibiotic area in which common infections and minor injuries which have been treatable for decades can once again kill due to this resistance.
In the talk, she also delivered a demonstration to the audience, showing how germs can spread and the most effective ways to prevent them, including with proper hand washing.
The audience were given the opportunity to practice proper hand washing and the hot spots that most people often miss when washing their hands, including the thumbs, fingertips and in between the fingers.
Reflecting on the talk, Dr Mohammed said: “It is very crucial to learn how to wash our hands properly that will protect us from infectiona as our hands can play an important role in transmitting germs. Proper hand washing can help reduce the risk of infection not only by superbugs but also by other germs including the novel coronavirus.
“My research interests include developing bacteriophage therapy as an alternative to antibiotics for treating antibiotic resistant bacterial infections, and public engagement is key to me as a researcher.”
