Antimicrobial resistance is growing exponentially and is becoming a global health and development threat.
What is the Antimicrobial resistance?
Antibiotic resistance (AMR) occurs when germs like bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them.
Globally, about 35% of common human infections have become resistant to available medicines.
About 700,000 people die every year because antimicrobial drugs are becoming less effective to combat pathogens.
India being the largest consumer of antibiotics in the world, AMR is a serious problem.
According to The Lancet study, in India approximately 58,000 new-born children die annually from sepsis because antimicrobial drugs are becoming less effective.
Why AMR occurs?
Human activity has significantly accelerated the process of microorganisms developing resistance to antimicrobial agents.
The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials for humans, livestock and agriculture is seen as cause for AMR.
Water is seen as major mode for the spread of AMR, especially in places with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene.
India has a capacity to treat only about 37% of the sewage generated annually & rest is discharged into natural water bodies without treatment.
The release of untreated effluents from households, health, pharmaceutical facilities and agricultural run-off is propagating resistant microorganisms.
What are the initiatives taken to combat AMR?
UNEP in its 2017 Frontiers Report, identified AMR as one of six emerging issues of environmental concern.
In 2017, the UN Environment Assembly advocated for understanding the role of environmental pollution in spreading AMR.
UN agencies are working together to develop the One Health AMR Global Action Plan that addresses the issue in human, animal, and plant health and food and environment sectors.
In 2020, MoEF&CC issued draft standards which sets the residue limits of 121 antibiotics to be released from drug production units.
Governments need to factor in new research before it is becoming a threat to human & environment.
