Antimicrobial resistance a global crisis
November 18 to 24 is World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a looming global crisis that threatens the foundations of modern medicine, and was directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths in 2019.
According to The Lancet (Global Burden of Bacterial AMR in 2019), AMR undermines life-saving treatments and makes infections increasingly 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.
This year’s theme, “Educate. Advocate. Act Now”, is a powerful reminder that parents/guardians, healthcare professionals and policymakers must act collectively to preserve life-saving medicines for generations to come. Antimicrobials—which include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics—kill, slow the spread of and treat infections caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. They have reshaped healthcare, transforming once fatal illnesses, like bacterial pneumonia and infections following surgery, into treatable conditions.
These medicines are crucial for safeguarding patients undergoing routine surgeries, cancer treatments and organ transplants. However, this progress is under threat from AMR, which occurs when microorganisms evolve over time to resist the medicines designed to stop or kill them. 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 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. AMR threatens to undo a century of medical progress. It’s a public health issue that goes deeply personal.
Misunderstanding how antimicrobials work fuels misuse and accelerates resistance. This includes common myths like “Antibiotics cure all infections” or “I can stop taking antibiotics once I feel better”. Every misuse of antimicrobials, no matter how small, contributes to resistance.
Key preventive measures against infections start with hand hygiene, one of the simplest yet most effective strategies. Infection control measures such as sterilising medical equipment, isolating infected patients and maintaining strict hygiene practices among healthcare workers are critical in healthcare environments. Vaccinations also greatly reduce the need for antibiotics and antivirals.
Parents/guardians and patients can help to stop the misuse of antibiotics by learning why it’s dangerous and encouraging others to use them properly. Healthcare providers must ensure appropriate use of antimicrobials; prescribing them only when they are needed and help others understand when and why they’re needed. The choices we make today will determine whether life-saving medicines remain effective for future generations.
Dr Owila is an antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist at Gertrude's Children's Hospital. [email protected].
