Before the General Assembly AMR Summit As of September 26, here’s what you need to know:
What is AMR?
Since their discovery a century ago, antimicrobial drugs, from antibiotics to antivirals, have dramatically extended the average lifespan. Every day, these essential medicines save millions of lives, until they are no longer available.
AMR occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial drugs. Due to resistance, antimicrobial drugs become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, serious illness, disability and death, according to the World Health Organization of the United Nations (WHO)).
Similar to COVID-19Antibiotic-resistant infections know no borders and no one is immune. But rates are higher in low- to middle-income countries.
The threat from antibiotic resistance is growing.
WHO: ‘This can happen to anyone’
Behind every AMR tracking number, there is a real, human cost. Some of the growing burdens faced include limited treatment options, extended hospital stays, ongoing medications, prolonged loss of income, medical debt, poverty, family loss, and grief. Lives are severely impacted, in some cases, death.
According to the UN health agency, “It can happen to anyone, anywhere.”
Even if you’re healthy, a minor injury, routine surgery, or a common lung infection can suddenly escalate into a life-threatening situation. For people with pre-existing conditions like cancer, HIV, or diabetes, an untreatable infection can become a dangerous second threat, striking when least expected.
What is its motivation?
Several factors can accelerate the emergence and spread of AMR, with antibiotic overuse being a major cause.
Antibiotic abuse and misuse: Using antibiotics when they are not needed, overprescribing them by your doctor, and not completing treatment can all lead to antibiotic resistance.
Use in agriculture: The use of antibiotics in livestock to promote growth and prevent disease can lead to drug-resistant strains that can be transmitted to humans.
Poor infection control: Inadequate hygiene conditions in health care facilities and the community facilitate the spread of drug-resistant microorganisms.
Global trade and tourism: Increased movement of people and goods makes it easier for drug-resistant bacteria to spread across borders.
A doctor examines a specimen in a microbiology laboratory at a teaching hospital in Nigeria.
Consequences of AMR
The rise of AMR has serious implications for individual and public health.
AMR threatens both the lives of millions of people and our economic future. It also impacts food systems, development and security.
It is estimated to cost the world $3.4 trillion annually by 2030, pushing some 28 million people into poverty by 2050. World Bank.
Global Action Plan
The good news is that AMR is 100 percent preventable. International partners have adopted Global Action Plan in 2015 and has promoted public awareness, responsible use of antimicrobials and ongoing research.
Another effective tool is to reduce the need for antimicrobial use by strengthening health systems through universal health insurance Prioritize infection prevention and control, immunization, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs.
For my part, WHO is monitoring, reporting, and providing updates on antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. For example, earlier this year, the organization updated its list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health.
“Since the first List of Priority Bacterial Pathogens was published in 2017, the threat of antibiotic resistance has increased, eroding the effectiveness of many antibiotics and putting at risk many of the achievements of modern medicine,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Antimicrobial Resistance. speak at the launch in May latest list.
“By mapping the global burden of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and assessing their impact on public health, this list plays a vital role in guiding investment and addressing the crisis in antibiotic supply and access,” she stressed.
Who is taking action to prevent AMR?
Scientists in Argentina study bacterial samples to monitor and control the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
- World leaders will gather at the United Nations General Assembly AMR Summit in September to approve a political declaration.
- The Quadrilateral Joint Secretariat on AMR Strengthening collaboration between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), WHO and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), building on their core mandates to support the global response to AMR worldwide One Health spectrum.
- WHO has implemented globally AMR is invisible. I am not.campaign to raise public awareness by early 2024 and run a World AMR Awareness Week every year, from November 18 to 24.
- WHO has launched a survivor task force to create a forum and elevate the voices of people who have experienced complications from drug-resistant infections.
- Read the WHO fact sheet on AMR This.
