Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant public health challenge that occurs when microorganisms develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them. This resistance makes standard treatments ineffective, infections persist, and increases the risk of spreading resistant infections to others.
AMR can be accelerated by several factors, including overuse and misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals, lack of rapid diagnostic tests, poor infection control practices, insufficient sanitary conditions, and inappropriate food handling.
The implications of AMR include prolonged hospital stays, higher medical costs, and increased mortality. As the effectiveness of antibiotics diminishes, procedures that depend on effective antimicrobial prophylaxis become riskier, including surgery, cancer chemotherapy, and care of premature infants.
To combat AMR, a multifaceted strategy is required, including improving infection prevention and control, optimizing the use of antimicrobial medicines in human and animal health, investing in research and development of new antibiotics, and strengthening policies, programs, and implementation of infection control measures.
Infection control measures are critical in preventing the spread of antimicrobial-resistant organisms within healthcare settings. Poor implementation of these measures increases the risk of healthcare-associated infections, many of which can be resistant to antibiotics.