No one is immune to antimicrobial resistance

Shobha Shukla – CNS (Citizen News Service)
"Even the healthiest amongst us could face a life-threatening situation through a minor injury, routine surgery, or common lung infection, if antimicro-bials fail,” said Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Nepal. “For those with pre-existing conditions like cancers, HIV, or diabetes, an untrea-table infection can become an unexpected and deadly adversary.”
Why do infections become difficult to treat or untreatable?
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites change over time and become resistant to (or no longer respond to) medicines, making infections harder (or impossible) to treat   and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. Misuse and overuse of medicines fuels AMR.
It is important to remember that it is the disease-causing microbe (and not the human being, animal or plant which is being treated) that becomes resistant to medicines. Therefore, even if a person uses antimicrobial medicines responsibly, they are still at risk of acquiring a drug-resistant infection.
Resistant microbes can pass between animals, plants and food, and in the environment. A "One Health" approach which recognises that the health of animals, humans, plants and the environment are inter-linked is therefore essential to respond to AMR.
No one is immune to AMR
AMR threatens to unravel a century of medical progress, turning once treatable infections into untrea- table life-threatening conditions, said Dr Pandav. "AMR is identified by the WHO as one of the top 10 global health threats facing humanity. AMR is making infections harder to treat, leading to prolonged hospital stays, higher medical costs, and increased disability, morbidity, and morta- lity. AMR has a real and devastating impact on individuals, families, environ- mental health, agricultural and food productions, and livelihoods." Dr Pandav was speaking as a Guest of Honour at the South Asia Sub-Regional Media Workshop to prevent Antimi- crobial Resistance (AMR) held in Kathmandu, Nepal. The workshop was organised by Health TV Online along with co-hosts, including Ministry of Health and Population of government of Nepal, Nepal Health Research Council of Govern- ment of Nepal, Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA), and partners.
Almost 5 million people died of AMR in a year
“In 2019 it was estimated that almost 5 million deaths were associated with bacterial AMR including 1.27 million deaths being directly caused by it. Raising awareness is our first line of defence against AMR. It is a collective responsibility, and media plays a crucial role to shape public opinion, influence policy, and dispel myths and misinformation. Public messaging on AMR in media needs to be simple, consistent, and clear,” said Dr Pandav.
“Four quadripartite agencies that have joined hands to combat AMR globally include the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), WHO, World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
(To be contd)