Superbugs Unleashed: Is Time Running Out to Stop the Global Infection Crisis?

The global infection crisis poses a significant threat to public health, with the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria or "superbugs" becoming a major concern.The crisis has been fueled by various factors, including the overuse of antibiotics, inadequate infection prevention and control measures,and the lack of investment in research and development of new treatments.Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach that involves improving surveillance and monitoring systems, promoting individual responsibility, and investing in research and development.Collaboration between stakeholders, including governments, healthcare providers, researchers, and the public, is crucial in overcoming the challenges posed by the global infection crisis. Despite promising advances in emerging technologies, sustained investment in research and development is necessary to ensure continued progress in addressing the issue.Failure to take action risks a future where superbugs run rampant and existing treatments become ineffective. It is time to act decisively to halt the spread of superbugs and prevent a global health crisis.

Responsabilidad social vs. responsabilidad individual en salud / Social responsibility vs. Individual responsibility in Health Care

En el marco general de la actual "Sociedad de la Información" y en el marco específico de la denominada "gobernanza en salud"; reaparece el viejo problema de la atribución de responsabilidad individual en salud. Se presume que el mayor acceso al conocimiento y a la información sanitaria conlleva mayor responsabilidad individual sobre las elecciones de estilos de vida. Mi hipótesis general es que, bajo el discurso ideal de la autodeterminación informativa y la co­responsabilidad individual en salud ­discurso propio de la gobernanza en salud­; se esconde la estrategia (neoliberal o libertariana) de limitación o negación de la atención de la salud pública en la responsabilidad individual ("the argument of desert"). Dicha estrategia justificaría los consiguientes recortes de poder distributivo del Estado en salud pública, reforzando las desigualdades sociales originales. Este discurso ignora que el acceso al conocimiento constituye un determinante social de la salud, y como tal, exige una estricta responsabilidad social en la prevención de la salud comunitaria

Within the general framework of present­day "Information Society" and in the specific context of so­called "governance in health", the old issue of individual attribution of responsibility in health comes back to the fore. It is presumed that wider access to knowledge and information on health­ related matters implies greater individual responsibility on choices concerning life­styles. My overall hypothesis is that, behind the ideal discourse on informational self­determination and individual co­responsibility in health matters ­a usual discourse in health governance­ lies a (neo­liberal or libertarian) strategy of limitation or denial of public health care based on individual responsibility (the argument of desert). Such strategy would justify the corresponding cuts in the distributive power of the State in matters of public health, thus reinforcing original social inequalities. This discourse ignores the fact that access to knowledge is a social determinant of health and, as such, requires strict social responsibility in preventive care in matters of communitarian health

Liberalismo, justiça social e responsabilidade individual / Liberalism, social justice, and individual responsibility / Libéralisme, justice sociale et responsabilité individuelle

The study examines the contemporary normative debate on social justice from the perspective of the normative political theory of “egalitarian liberalism”. Contrary to an anti-egalitarian liberal political theory, or “libertarianism”, the argument is that a notion of “effective freedom”, and not negative freedom, is central to egalitarian liberalism. Additionally, in contrast to a theoretical current of egalitarianism known as “luck egalitarianism”, the article further argues that although egalitarian liberalism assigns special importance to individual responsibility, it does so (unlike “luck egalitarianism”) without implying any concession to the conservative critique of egalitarianism and the state’s redistributive action.

Dans cet article, on examine le débat normatif contemporain sur la justice sociale dans l’optique de la théorie politique normative du “libéralisme égalitaire”. En opposition avec une théorie politique libérale anti-égalitaire, le libertarianisme, on propose que la notion de “liberté effective” et non pas de liberté négative, est centrale pour le libéralisme égalitaire. Et, en opposition avec un versant théorique de l’égalitarisme nommé luck egalitarianism, on soutient que, bien que le libéralisme égalitaire donne une importance particulière à la responsabilité individuelle, il le fait de façon que, à l’inverse de ce qui se passe avec l’”égalitarisme de la fortune”, cela n’implique aucun renoncement à la critique conservatrice à propos de l’égalitarisme et de l’action redistributive de l’État.

Aspectos éticos del calentamiento climático global / Ethical aspets aabout global warmngg

Este artículo presenta, de una manera clara y sencilla, la complejidad asociada al calentamiento global. Además, señala algunos de los debates éticos asociados a este fenómeno. El calentamiento global no es un fenómeno que sea ajeno al diario vivir de de cada persona.

This article presents in a clear and simple way, the complexity associated to the global warming. In addition, to indicate some of the associated ethical debates to this phenomenon. The global warming is not a phenomenon that is strange to the day living of each person.

A construção do conhecimento do indivíduo no processo de sensibilização-conscientização -ação sobre a hantavirose e a oportunidade para o controle e a prevenção de zoonoses emergentes: a experiência da hantavirose em Santa Catarina/Brasil / The construction of the individual's knowledge in the process of sensitization-awareness raising-action about hantavirus disease and the opportunity to control and prevent emerging zoonoses: the experience of hantavirus disease in Santa Catarina/Brazil

Este artigo descreve a trajetória da descoberta da Hantavirose no estado de Santa Catarina, no Município de Seara, no ano de 2000. Uma investigação epidemiológica dessa primeira ocorrência proveu dados e informações para pesquisa realizada a posteriori. O estudo realizado teve o intuito de analisar a Hantavirose como caso específico de doença emergente, relacionando-a com as suas condições de surgimento, passíveis de intervenção. Por meio de entrevistas semi-estruturadas com atores envolvidos na investigação, foram identificados aspectos relevantes para práticas da Saúde Pública. O pequeno aproveitamento dos dados de uma investigação epidemiológica; o pouco investimento em ações preventivas pelo Estado após a emergência; e a impessoalidade dos profissionais de saúde envolvidos a contribuir para a responsabilização dos indivíduos afetados constituíram elementos indicativos de que não há orientação e controle de forma contínua ou mesmo um auxílio real aos indivíduos/comunidades necessitadas. Dessa forma é praticamente impossível que as ações sanitárias sejam bem-sucedidas. Conclui-se que o Programa de Saúde na Família, de estratégia dinâmica e participativa, é um dos elementos fundamentais no processo de construção do conhecimento de cada indivíduo com importância inegável nas orientações diante da emergência da Hantavirose. Paralelo ao programa faz-se necessária a elaboração de projetos educacionais direcionados às escolas e de um cronograma de palestras para as associações de bairros, visando um processo de sensibilização - conscientização-ação no auto-cuidado, em caráter permanente e não somente por ocasião de epidemias.

This article describes the path of the discovery of Hantavirus disease in the state of Santa Catarina, where the first case occurred in the Municipal district of Seara in 2000. This occurrence provided data used in the present study. The main objective of the study was to analyze Hantavirus disease as specific case of emerging disease and the causing conditions. Interviews were undertaken with different actors involved in order to identify some preventive aspects. Results indicated: the need of a better use of data of an epidemic investigation to guide more effective preventive practices; the small investment by the State in prevention measures after this emergency; the lack of orientation and control in a continuous way or of a real aid to the needy families; and that the impersonal posture of health professionals involved that contributed to the perception that the affected individuals were the responsible. In the final considerations the importance of the Program of Health in the Family (PSF) was highlighted as one of the elements in the process of construction of each individual's knowledge. Parallel to the Program, education projects and a schedule of lectures for neighborhood associations are necessary, aiming a process of sensitization - awareness raising - action in the self-care, in a continuous way and not only during epidemics.

El modelo de salud colombiano y la calidad del cuidado de enfermería *

Mantener los principios morales, en medio de la adversidad y el conflicto, suele ser todo un desafío. Sin embargo, nuestro compromiso como seres humanos íntegros es superar las contrariedades del medio y los dilemas éticos que plantea el día a día. También nos corresponde, como personal de salud, apropiarnos de la responsabilidad individual y social de brindar cuidados de calidad en enfermería. Estos deberes no son fáciles de cumplir, más cuando somos conscientes de que el modelo de salud tiene unos condicionantes económicos, políticos y sociales que influyen categóricamente en el ejercicio de la profesión. Indudablemente, el cuestionamiento sobre el quehacer de enfermería y sus repercusiones es una constante para la reflexión ética. Por ello, como sujetos morales, debemos generar y aprovechar espacios de deliberación con el propósito de asumir verdaderos compromisos para el cambio, la toma de conciencia moral y el fortalecimiento de la profesión. En ese orden de ideas, la propuesta y argumentación general del texto consiste en que, como benefactores de la calidad de vida, llevemos a cabo acciones y decisiones que, en medio de la dificultad, salvaguarden el bien interno de nuestra profesión: el cuidado de la salud de los seres humanos.

Enduring morals through adversity and conflict use to be a challenge. Notwithstanding, our compromise as integral human beings is to overcome milieu obstacles and daily ethical dilemmas. As health staff, it is our duty to take possession of the individual and social responsibility of rendering a quality nursing care. These duties are not easy to cope with, even more if we are aware of the economical, political and social elements of the health model that are definitively influencing the nursing practice. Undoubtedly, enquiring about nursing duty and its consequences is a constant for ethical pondering. Therefore, as moral subjects we must give raise and take advantage of debating spaces in order to assume real changing compromises, moral awareness and strengthening of the profession. As a result and as life quality guards, the general proposal and argument of the present document is to conduct actions and make decisions that, even in difficult times, safeguard the inner good of our profession: humane beings health care.