Antimicrobial Resistance

By: Joshita Tera

What is it?

Antimicrobials (which include substances like antibiotics, antivirals, antiparasitics, etc) are medicines used to treat diseases in any living thing. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, parasites, and more, are no longer impacted by or respond to antimicrobial medicines. As a result of this drug resistance, most antibiotics and antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become very difficult to treat. This can increase the rise of disease spread, illness, disability and death. (World Health Organization)

Why/How does it Occur?

The primary cause of AMR is antibiotic use. When one uses antibiotics, some of the bacteria dies but resistance bacteria can survive and even multiply. The overuse of antibiotics causes increased resistance bacteria.

Although bacteria naturally develops resistance to antibiotics, out actions may contribute to the growth of the resistance. This can happen:

• With the overprescription of antibiotics by human and animal health experts

• With failure to take antibiotics as prescribed because of poor hygiene and a lack of infection prevention and control (like improper hand washing)

• With the spread of resistant bacteria as a result of international travel

AMR occurs spontaneously, although bacteria naturally develop AMR, the use of antibiotics exacerbates this process. AMR bacteria can develop when they:

• Obtain resistant genes from other bacteria

• Activate certain internal resistance systems and alter to defend against an antibiotic

(Australian Government)

Impact on a Global Scale

The foundation of contemporary medicine is antimicrobial medication. Our capacity to treat common illnesses and carry out life-saving operations like organ transplants, hip replacements, chemotherapy for cancer, and even C-Sections, is under jeopardy due to the rise and spread of drug resistant microorganisms. Drug resistant diseases also affect plant and animal health, which lowers agricultural productivity and jeopardizes food security.

Every nation, whatever of income level, faces the challenge of AMR. It's spread transcends national boundaries. Lack of access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene for people and animals; inadequate infection and disease prevention and control in homes, hospitals, and farms; limited availability of high-quality and reasonably prices vaccines, diagnostics, and medicationsl ignorance and non-enforcment of pertaining laws are all contributing factors. The causes and effects of AMR particularly affect vulnerable groups and those residing in low-resouce environments. (World Health Organization)

Combating AMR

Antimicrobial Resistance is becoming more prevalent worldwide and is linked to higher rater of morbidity and martality in both hospital and community settings. It has been suggested that local, national, and international strategies be used to prevent and control antibiotic resistance. The main suggested strategies include regulation the over-the-counter availability of antibiotics, promoting better hand hygiene, enhancing infection prevention and control, and using antimicrobials rationally. Innovation in novel medications and vaccinations is required, as it is a thorough understanding of resistance mechanisms, To tackle antibiotic resistance, a multidisciplinary, cooperative, and regulatory approach is required.(Swami)

Sources

Australian Government. “What Causes AMR? | Antimicrobial Resistance.” Antimicrobial Resistance, 31 Oct. 2022, www.amr.gov.au/about-amr/what-causes-amr.

Swami, Onkar C. “Strategies to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance.” JOURNAL of CLINICAL and DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH, vol. 8, no. 7, July 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4149102/.

World Health Organization. “Antimicrobial Resistance.” World Health Organization, 21 Nov. 2023, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance.

Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board