Ishita Roy

Antimicrobial Resistance Explained: Why Is WHO Calling It A Serious Health Threat?

Antimicrobial Resistance

The <span>World Health Organisation</span> (WHO) has called for a call to action to the world leaders to address the ongoing issues of <span>antimicrobial</span> resistance for the 79th session of the UN General Assembly that is being held in New York from 20 to 30 September. 

<h5>What Is Antimicrobial Resistance?</h5>

Antimicrobial resistance (<span>AMR</span>) threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi.

AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of <span>disease</span> spread, severe illness and death. As a result, the medicines become ineffective and infections persist in the body, increasing the risk of spread to others.

Antimicrobials - including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics - are medicines used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals and plants. Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”.

As antibiotic resistance increases, even common infections could become difficult to treat. For example, some doctors have already reported patients needing hospitalization for simple urinary tract infections. This rise in resistance could lead to more complications in hospitals, longer stays, and higher medical costs.

In India, many people take antibiotics for fevers without knowing if the cause is bacterial. Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections, like the flu, but using them unnecessarily contributes to antibiotic resistance.

Often, people choose to take advice from a local chemist instead of visiting a doctor due to the inconvenience or cost of consultations. While their goal is to recover quickly, this habit of self-medicating with antibiotics fuels resistance.

Experts emphasise that prevention is key: improving hygiene, frequent handwashing, and vaccinations can help avoid infections in the first place. For example, pneumococcal and influenza vaccines can reduce cases of pneumonia, but they are not widely used.

Doctors also play a role in antibiotic resistance. Broad-spectrum antibiotics, which target a wide range of bacteria, are more likely to contribute to resistance. Experts point out that educating doctors on when to use narrow-spectrum antibiotics can help.

A report from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) found that 71.9% of patients in hospitals were prescribed antibiotics, with little difference in usage between intensive care units and other wards. Alarmingly, 55% of these prescriptions were for preventing infections, not treating them.

Some antibiotics, like Norfloxacin, which used to be effective for diarrhea, have become ineffective due to overuse. Additionally, resistance to carbapenem, a powerful class of antibiotics, is increasing in conditions like typhoid, where it’s often not even necessary.

Another challenge is the use of empirical prescriptions—doctors guessing the cause of an infection based on symptoms instead of running diagnostic tests.

<h5>Pharmaceutical Companies and Pollution</h5>

Antibiotic manufacturing can also contribute to resistance. A recent WHO guideline addresses the issue of antibiotic pollution from manufacturing, highlighting the need for better waste management practices. Pharmaceutical waste, if not properly controlled, can promote the spread of drug-resistant bacteria, which can travel across borders and worsen the global <span>health</span> crisis.

<h5>Common <span rel="noindex">Resistant Pathogens</span> in India</h5>

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) identifies three common antibiotic-resistant pathogens in hospitals:

E. coli – often responsible for gut infections. Its resistance to carbapenems has risen significantly, with susceptibility dropping from 81.4% in 2017 to 62.7% in 2023.

Klebsiella pneumoniae – known to cause pneumonia and urinary tract infections. Resistance to two carbapenem antibiotics increased, with susceptibility falling from 58.5% to 35.6% and 48% to 37.6% between 2017 and 2023.

Acinetobacter baumannii – mainly associated with hospital-acquired infections, this pathogen poses a serious risk to patients already weakened by other illnesses.

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for a call to action to the world leaders to address the ongoing issues of antimicrobial resistance for the 79th session of the UN General Assembly that is being held in New York from 20 to 30 September. What Is Antimicrobial Resistance?Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi.AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result, the medicines become ineffective and infections persist in the body, increasing the risk of spread to others.Antimicrobials - including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics - are medicines used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals and plants. Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”.As antibiotic resistance increases, even common infections could become difficult to treat. For example, some doctors have already reported patients needing hospitalization for simple urinary tract infections. This rise in resistance could lead to more complications in hospitals, longer stays, and higher medical costs.Why Is It On The Rise?In India, many people take antibiotics for fevers without knowing if the cause is bacterial. Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections, like the flu, but using them unnecessarily contributes to antibiotic resistance.Often, people choose to take advice from a local chemist instead of visiting a doctor due to the inconvenience or cost of consultations. While their goal is to recover quickly, this habit of self-medicating with antibiotics fuels resistance.Experts emphasise that prevention is key: improving hygiene, frequent handwashing, and vaccinations can help avoid infections in the first place. For example, pneumococcal and influenza vaccines can reduce cases of pneumonia, but they are not widely used.Doctors And Over-PrescriptionsDoctors also play a role in antibiotic resistance. Broad-spectrum antibiotics, which target a wide range of bacteria, are more likely to contribute to resistance. Experts point out that educating doctors on when to use narrow-spectrum antibiotics can help.A report from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) found that 71.9% of patients in hospitals were prescribed antibiotics, with little difference in usage between intensive care units and other wards. Alarmingly, 55% of these prescriptions were for preventing infections, not treating them.Some antibiotics, like Norfloxacin, which used to be effective for diarrhea, have become ineffective due to overuse. Additionally, resistance to carbapenem, a powerful class of antibiotics, is increasing in conditions like typhoid, where it’s often not even necessary.Another challenge is the use of empirical prescriptions—doctors guessing the cause of an infection based on symptoms instead of running diagnostic tests.Pharmaceutical Companies and PollutionAntibiotic manufacturing can also contribute to resistance. A recent WHO guideline addresses the issue of antibiotic pollution from manufacturing, highlighting the need for better waste management practices. Pharmaceutical waste, if not properly controlled, can promote the spread of drug-resistant bacteria, which can travel across borders and worsen the global health crisis.Common Resistant Pathogens in IndiaThe Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) identifies three common antibiotic-resistant pathogens in hospitals:E. coli – often responsible for gut infections. Its resistance to carbapenems has risen significantly, with susceptibility dropping from 81.4% in 2017 to 62.7% in 2023.Klebsiella pneumoniae – known to cause pneumonia and urinary tract infections. Resistance to two carbapenem antibiotics increased, with susceptibility falling from 58.5% to 35.6% and 48% to 37.6% between 2017 and 2023.Acinetobacter baumannii – mainly associated with hospital-acquired infections, this pathogen poses a serious risk to patients already weakened by other illnesses.

antimicrobial resistance explained: why is who calling it a serious health threat?

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