Fight against anti-microbial resistance for a healthy future

Misunderstanding how antimicrobials work fuels misuse and accelerates resistance. [iStockphoto]

Anti-microbial resistance is a looming global crisis threatening foundations of modern medicine.

Directly responsible for approximately 1.27 million deaths in 2019, according to The Lancet (Global Burden of Bacterial AMR in 2019), Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) undermines life-saving treatments and makes infections difficult to treat.

The World Bank estimates that its ripple effects extend beyond health, crippling economies, with projected losses of up to $3.4 trillion annually by 2030. Parents, guardians, healthcare professionals and policymakers must act collectively to preserve life-saving medicines for generations to come.

Antimicrobials kill, slow the spread, and treat infections caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. These include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics.

These medicines have reshaped healthcare, transforming once fatal illnesses, like bacterial pneumonia and infections following surgery, into treatable conditions.

Today, antimicrobials are crucial for safeguarding patients undergoing routine surgeries, cancer treatments, and organ transplants. However, this progress is under threat from antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

AMR occurs when microorganisms evolve over time to resist the medicines designed to stop or kill them (Antimicrobials). This makes infections harder or even impossible to treat. Children, especially in low-resource settings, are at high risk. For instance, pneumonia, a common and once-treatable childhood illness, becomes life-threatening without effective antibiotics.

Life-saving medical procedures like cancer treatments and surgeries could be compromised without antimicrobials to prevent and treat associated infections.

Left unchecked, AMR threatens to undo a century of medical progress. It’s a public health issue and goes deeply personal. Misunderstanding how antimicrobials work fuels misuse and accelerates resistance.

Some common myths don’t help either. For example, “Antibiotics cure all infections” could not be further from the truth. On the contrary, antibiotics only fight bacteria, so they won’t help with colds or the flu, which are caused by viruses.

Every misuse of antimicrobials, no matter how small, contributes to resistance. Imagine a world where antimicrobials no longer work. A child with a bacterial infection could face prolonged suffering with limited treatment options, or a loved one undergoing surgery could be at risk of an untreatable infection.

Common examples of antibiotic misuse include prescribing them for viral infections like the flu, which antibiotics cannot treat, and engaging in self-medication by using leftover antibiotics or antimicrobials.

AMR requires a unified and intentional effort. Follow your doctor’s advice, don’t share medications, and talk to your community about why this matters. Healthcare providers must ensure appropriate use of antimicrobials; prescribing them only when they are needed.

Policymakers should support smart ideas and formulate policies that regulate antimicrobial handling. Together, we can champion solutions, protect these vital medicines, and secure a healthier, safer future for all.

-Dr Owila is an antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital.