Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) refers to the ability of a microorganism to prevent an antimicrobial such as an antibiotic, from having an effect on it. This means that the bacteria/other microorganisms are not killed and continue to multiply in the body. Treatments become ineffective, the infections continue to persist and spread to other people or animals. This leads to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and increased mortality. Infections that are caused by resistant microorganisms can lead up to two-fold higher adverse outcomes as compared to infections caused by susceptible strains. According to WHO, AMR is a serious threat to public health globally and needs to be addressed as it is threatening our ability to treat common diseases. There is a growing list of infections, some of which include tuberculosis, blood poisoning, and pneumonia. The way medicines are prescribed and used needs to be changed. Overuse, underuse and misuse of medicine drives the development of drug resistance. Patients need to be well informed about the right dosage of the appropriate medicine. We may be now heading towards a post-antibiotic era in which common infections can become life-threatening.
Image source: https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/about.html
There are many ways to reduce the impact of resistance and prevent it from spreading. Individuals can control the spread of AMR by using antibiotics only when prescribed by healthcare professionals. They can prevent infections by regular handwashing, preparing food hygienically, taking vaccinations regularly and avoiding contact with sick people. Policy makers and health professionals can have a large impact too. Strengthening policies and programs, making information available to the public, reporting these infections to the surveillance teams and clean healthcare environments can help to control and prevent the spread of AMR. Appropriate measures should be taken by the agriculture sector, such as vaccinating animals, not using antibiotics on healthy animals to prevent diseases and improving hygiene.
Image source: https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/about.html
Antimicrobial Resistance was initially a problem in a hospital setting as it resulted in increased number of hospital-acquired infections but it has now extended on to community. This is a pressing issue in the United States as well as around the globe. Tackling this issue is a high priority of the WHO. Their global action plan aims to prevent and treat these infections with effective medicine. WHO has multiple initiatives that address AMR some of which include, The Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS), and the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP).
References:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/antibiotic-resistance/en/
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs194/en/
http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/antimicrobial_resistance/en/
https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/community/about/antibiotic-resistance-faqs.html
https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/about.html
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0188440905002730
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