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Antimicrobial Resistance: The Silent Pandemic
AMR is one of the largest global health threats of our time, threatening to undermine
years of progress in the control of infectious diseases. This silent pandemic, caused by overuse
and misuse of antimicrobial drugs, is rapidly eroding our ability to treat common infections and
to perform routine medical procedures safely. AMR—that is, the emergence and spread of drug-
resistant pathogens—is an urgent threat to human health, food security, and economic
development, both in healthcare settings and in communities, requiring immediate coordinated
action at the global level.
One major driver of antibiotic resistance in human health, animal husbandry, and the
environment is complex and multifaceted. This could happen because inappropriate prescribing
practices in healthcare settings are combined with poor infection control and a lack of diagnostic
capability, which allows for resistant organisms to be selected and spread (Booton et al., 2021).
Heavy use of antibiotics in agriculture, particularly for promoting growth in food animals,
further worsens the situation by developing pools of resistant bacteria that are transferred to
humans either through the food chain or environmental contamination. Compounding this crisis
further, there are almost no new antibiotics in the development pipeline—due to scientific
challenges and economic disincentives—which has left very few options for treating patients,
including those with resistant infections.
The fight against resistance to antimicrobials demands a holistic "One Health" approach
recognizing the very strong connection between human, animal, and environmental health. The
long-term strategies are focused on the enhancement of antimicrobial stewardship in health care
and agriculture, strengthening surveillance systems to track resistance patterns, and well-funded
research, development, and new antibiotics and alternative therapies (Shrestha et al., 2021).
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Equally important are strategies aimed at preventing infections through improved sanitation,
vaccination, and infection control practices, thereby cutting the need for antimicrobial use.
Public awareness campaigns, health professionals, and public education on responsible use of
antibiotics and the real risks of resistance are a necessity.
The fight against antibiotic resistance has become a race against time whereby if
something is left unchecked, the consequences could be catastrophic. Indeed, in order to
effectively deal with this global threat, international cooperation and policy alignment are
imperative. It is in this respect that initiatives such as the World Health Organization Global
Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance offer a route to harmonized action. However, their
execution requires long-term dedication and resources from governments, healthcare systems,
and industries around the world as we go through this choice point in the management of
infectious diseases, so our capacity to maintain the effectiveness of antimicrobials will come to
characterize the difficulties facing global health during the decades to come.
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References
Booton, R. D., Meeyai, A., Alhusein, N., Buller, H., Feil, E., Lambert, H., Mongkolsuk, S.,
Pitchforth, E., Reyher, K. K., Sakcamduang, W., Satayavivad, J., Singer, A. C.,
Sringernyuang, L., Thamlikitkul, V., Vass, L., Avison, M. B., Alhusein, N., Booton, R.
D., Buller, H., & Chantong, B. (2021). One Health drivers of antibacterial resistance:
Quantifying the relative impacts of human, animal and environmental use and
transmission. One Health, 12, 100220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100220
Shrestha, J., Zahra, F., & Cannady, J. (2021). Antimicrobial Stewardship. PubMed; StatPearls
Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572068/
