All You Need To Know About Antimicrobial Resistance

As per the world health organization (WHO), antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is considered one of the top ten worldwide public health issues facing humanity. Antimicrobials refer to medications used to prevent and treat infections in animals, plants, and humans. They include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics. AMR threatens the efficient treatment and prevention of a growing number of infections caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi. It may affect all ages and stages of life as well as the medical, veterinary, and agricultural sectors. This makes it one of the essential public health issues worldwide.
 

Please keep reading to learn more about antimicrobial resistance
 

What Is Antimicrobial Resistance?
 

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) happens when the strains of viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi change over time and fail to respond to medications. This makes the infections more difficult to cure and raises the risk of disease transmission, life-threatening illnesses, and death. Antibiotics and other antimicrobial medications become ineffective due to drug resistance, and infections become more difficult or impossible to treat.
 

Causes For Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) develops as a result of genetic alterations. AMR organisms are mostly found in the environment (water, soil, and air), humans, animals, plants, and food. They can transmit from person to person, through humans and animals, or even via animal products. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics, a lack of access to clean water, inadequate sanitation, poor infection control in hospitals and farms, lack of awareness and knowledge are the main causes of antimicrobial resistance.
 

Risk Factors Of Antimicrobial Resistance

The following factors contribute to an increase in the risk of antimicrobial resistance:

Over prescription of antibiotics: Antibiotics helps in fighting against infections. But if they are over prescribed, it will make the bacteria resistant against the medication. Apart from antibiotic resistance it increases the severity of the disease, other health complications and adverse effects.
 

Broad-spectrum medications: Sometimes, a medical professional will treat an infection with a broad-spectrum antimicrobial that fights multiple microbes rather than just one particular pathogen. It raises the possibility of antibiotic resistance.
 

Using antibiotics in agriculture: A significant issue exists when antibiotics are used in agriculture to stimulate the growth of plants, animals, and food. Antibiotic-treated meat-producing animals may produce bacteria with resistance. These virulent microorganisms could contaminate meat or other animal-derived foods. People who consume these foods then acquire resistant bacteria. 
 

11 Preventive Tips For Antimicrobial Resistance

No one can totally prevent developing an infection, but there are some preventive measures you may take to lower your risk and assist in halting the spread of germs. It includes:
 

1. To avoid getting sick or infected, follow good general health practices such as a healthy diet, exercise, getting enough sleep, and good hygiene (especially frequent hand-washing).

2. Keep your hands clean, particularly clean your hands before cooking food and after touching, feeding, or taking care of animals.

3. Get vaccinated to prevent resistant infections.

4. Be aware of any changes in your health and seek immediate medical attention to avoid life-threatening complications.

5. Use antibiotics properly as they save lives, but they can cause side effects that lead to antibiotic resistance.

6. Practice safe sex by using condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea.

7. Know about your risks of certain dreadful infections like sepsis

8. Discuss symptoms with a healthcare professional in depth before selecting the appropriate medication to treat any condition.

9. Any prescription drug should be taken exactly as prescribed.

10. Never use or share your prescription drugs with anybody else.

11. Never save expired prescription medications for future use.
     

Conclusion

Antimicrobial resistance in India is a major concern, since India is one of the countries that are worst hit by antimicrobial resistance. Understanding antimicrobial resistance is the first step toward preventing and managing AMR. It has the potential to reverse the miracles of modern medicine. If antibiotic resistance continues at its current rate, healthcare providers will no longer be able to cure infections. It is essential to create and raise antimicrobial resistance awareness 2022 to build a society capable of taking preventive action in the face of potential global threats.

Disclaimer: This blog is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a complex global health issue, and the appropriate use of antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines should always be guided by a qualified healthcare professional. Never self-medicate or stop prescribed antimicrobial treatment without consulting your doctor.