Friday, 7 October 2016

Is Antimicrobial Resistance A Global Concern?

Antibiotic resistance happens when an antibiotic loses its ability to control or kill bacterial augmentation in the body. Which Means, the bacteria become "resistant" and persistently grow in the presence of healing levels of an antibiotic.  

Dr Kammela Sridhar— Urologist says, “Antibiotic resistance is a usual phenomenon. When an antibiotic is consumed, bacteria that can resist the antibiotic have a better chance of survival.”



How do bacteria become resistant?
Some bacteria are innately resistant to some specific types of antibiotics. However, bacteria might also become resistant in two ways:  
1) By a genetic change
2) By obtaining resistance from another bacterium
Resistant microbes are even tougher to treat, entailing alternative medications or high doses—which perhaps can be more costly or toxic.

Why has it become a global concern?
Antimicrobial resistance is rising with millions of deaths each year. In fact, some of the infections have now become completely untreatable owing to resistance.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) report, "This grave threat is no longer a prophecy for the future; presently it is occurring in every region of the world and has the potential to have an effect on anyone, of any age, in any country.
Worldwide antibiotic resistance is not completely recorded, but underdeveloped countries with poor healthcare systems are more affected.
  • Antimicrobial resistance increases the expenditure of healthcare with extended stays in hospitals and more intensive care is required.
  • Antimicrobial resistance is risking the gains of the Millennium Development Goals and endangering the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals across the globe.


Antimicrobial resistance is a multifaceted problem that is affecting nearly all of society and is driven by several interconnected factors. Sole, isolated involvements have a limited impact. United action is required to play down the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. 

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