Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is Critical to the Health System Development and Economic Growth in Resource-Limited Countries: Time for Tackling AMR with “One Health” Approach

Abstract

Wubshet Mamo*, DVM, MSc, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor, Global Health, University of Washington, USA

Antimicrobial drugs play a critical role in reducing the burden of communicable diseases; however resistance to antimicrobial drugs is also increasing mortality and morbidity from infectious diseases and scarce resource in resource-limited countries. AMR is adding profound costs to healthcare. Although, appearance of drug resistance is a continuous phenomenon in microorganisms, its amplification and spread is promoted through the unregulated and improper utilization of antimicrobial agents (antibiotics and related therapeutics for medicinal use), the use of fake and counterfeit medicines, poor prescribing habits and non-compliance to prescribed treatments. AMR presents an ever-increasing global public health threat that involves major microbial pathogens and antimicrobial drugs. In low-income countries like African countries, AMR frequently occurs in microorganisms that are likely to be transmitted in the community such as organisms causing pneumonia, diarrheal diseases, tuberculosis (TB), sexually transmitted diseases, meningococcal infection and malaria. AMR threatens the effectiveness of successful treatment of infections in human and animals and requires a range of interventions and multidisciplinary teams approach. To combat AMR appropriately and effectively, concerted collaborative efforts are necessary across the human health (human medicine), animal health (veterinary medicine) and environment sectors. Therefore, it needs a One Health, an integrated approach considering human, and animal health, and the environment, enhancing cooperation and collaboration between physicians, veterinarians, other scientific health and environmental professionals to ensuring a robust response to the threat of AMR. It is also necessary to promote One Health approaches to policies, practices and behaviors that could minimize the risk of AMR emergence and spread. Surveillance of bacterial resistance, understanding the evolution of resistance, and the mechanisms of transmissibility, building the capacity of clinical laboratories to confirm drug-resistant, strong and efficient interaction between doctors, patients, veterinarians, adaption of new diagnostic technologies to enable rapid identification of viral and bacterial infections and update research on AMR are cornerstone in the fight against AMR. In conclusion, AMR is a serious threat to the public health system and economic growth of countries in particular countries with poor economy. It is serious that the increase in the prevalence of drug-resistant pathogens is occurring at a time when the development of new antimicrobial agents is slowing. This may lead to facing potentially untreatable infections. The emergence, mode of transmission and the essentials of better control of AMR are already well known, what is needed is urgent cross-sector actions in line with the One Health approach.

*E-mail: wubshetmam@yahoo.com; Cell phone: +251 911 821 624