Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective, and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat.
Drug-resistant infections cost more to treat, as reserve antimicrobials are not widely available and are expensive. These infections also lead to longer hospital stays, may require management in an isolation unit or critical care unit. They also have an impact on reduced productivity of those affected.
According to the Lancet, 1.57 million of 4.95 million deaths were associated with bacterial AMR in 2019, with 27.3 deaths per 100,000 occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The six leading pathogens for deaths associated with resistance (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were responsible for 929,000 (660,000–1,270,000) deaths attributable to AMR and 3.57 million (2.62–4.78) deaths associated with AMR in 2019.
A global action plan to tackle the growing problem of resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines was endorsed at the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly in May 2015. This was endorsed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), as well as WHO.
One of the key objectives of the plan is to improve awareness and understanding of AMR through effective communication, education, and training.
Antibiotics should not be used nor shared with another person and these should be disposed of properly. Good infection prevention and control measures, quality diagnostics, and vaccines have a vital role to play in the prevention and spread of infections.
Some of the drivers of antimicrobial resistance are overuse and misuse of antimicrobials, unregulated dispensing of antibiotics/other antimicrobials, use of antibiotics in livestock production and farming, as well as poor disposal of leftover antimicrobials.
There is a void in the discovery and development of new antimicrobials, and growing antimicrobial resistance to existing medications is a threat to public health.
World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW)
World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) is a global campaign that is celebrated annually to improve awareness and understanding of AMR and encourage best practices among the public, One Health stakeholders, and policymakers, who all play a critical role in reducing the further emergence and spread of AMR.
To address AMR effectively, a One Health approach that considers human, animal, and environmental factors is key. This includes enhancing surveillance systems, promoting stewardship programs, and investing in research and development for new antimicrobial drugs.
Public awareness, education, and international collaboration are essential for combating AMR and preserving the efficacy of antibiotics into the future.
World AMR Awareness Week 2024
Some of the ways to prevent rising AMR is judicious targeted use of antimicrobials and regulation of over-the-counter antimicrobial access (issued against a prescription from a registered health worker).
Antimicrobials should be used as prescribed for the right indication, at the right dose, right timing, and right duration.
WAAW is celebrated from 18th to 24th November every year. This year’s theme is “Educate, Advocate, Act Now.”
As a hospital, oversight of antimicrobial use is governed by the antimicrobial use policy, and this was launched on 20th November 2024.
The AMS policy framework is guided by WHO’s grouping of antibiotics into those that have a low risk of resistance, those with a high risk of resistance and thus should be watched, and those to be reserved for use sparingly.
The Mandate of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program
- Optimize the use of antibiotics.
- Promote behavior change in antibiotic prescribing and dispensing practices.
- Improve quality of care and patient outcomes.
- Save on unnecessary healthcare costs.
- Reduce further emergence, selection, and spread of AMR.
- Prolong the lifespan of existing antibiotics.
- Limit the adverse economic impact of AMR.
- Build the best-practices capacity of healthcare professionals regarding the rational antibiotic use.
- Learn more: World AMR Awareness