Verweij M F, Rump B O, Timen A, Hulscher M E J L
Wageningen University & Research, afd. Communication, Philosophy and Technology.
Contact: M.F. Verweij (
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2020 Jan 16;164:D4286.
Dutch healthcare institutions are relatively successful in preventing outbreaks of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, thus protecting vulnerable patients. However, measures taken to prevent the introduction and spread of MDROs can be burdensome for asymptomatic carriers of such bacteria or for people who may have been exposed to them. This leads to ethical dilemmas. On the basis of a study of the impact of being a carrier and precautionary measures on carrier well-being, we present an ethical framework for responsible care for carriers. We argue that solidarity requires that the burden of prevention and control of resistance is to be shouldered by society as a whole. It is not right to see this problem primarily as a conflict between the protection of vulnerable patients on the one hand and carriers on the other.
荷兰的医疗机构在预防抗生素耐药性病原体的爆发方面相对成功，从而保护了脆弱的患者。然而，为防止耐多药菌的引入和传播所采取的措施，对于此类细菌的无症状携带者或可能接触过这些细菌的人来说可能是繁重的。这就导致了伦理困境。基于一项关于作为携带者的影响以及预防措施对携带者福祉的研究，我们提出了一个对携带者进行负责任护理的伦理框架。我们认为，团结要求整个社会承担起预防和控制耐药性的负担。将这个问题主要视为一方面保护脆弱患者与另一方面保护携带者之间的冲突是不正确的。
