Urgent action needed to combat antimicrobial resistance: Report

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Health

Context:

The Global Steering Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (GLG-AMR) published a report emphasizing the urgent need for action against the rising dangers of AMR, which includes resistance to antibiotics, antifungals, and antiparasitics.

Detail findings of the report:

Political leaders are reportedly neglecting the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), risking a major health and economic crisis.
The misuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals, and agriculture, compounded by environmental changes from the climate crisis, is accelerating the spread of AMR.
This report aims to mobilize global leaders before a critical meeting in New York.
AMR, a leading cause of death worldwide, causes 1.27 million deaths annually, disproportionately affecting children under five in lower-income countries.
Without intervention, AMR could decrease life expectancy by 1.8 years by 2035 and inflict massive economic losses, estimated at $855 billion annually due to health costs and lost productivity.
Investing an average of $46 billion annually in combating AMR could yield returns of up to $13 for every dollar spent by 2050, highlighting the cost-effectiveness of addressing the issue.

From local to global:

GLG-AMR has set specific goals for 2023 to catalyze action, aiming to reduce deaths from bacterial AMR by 10% and ensure that at least 80% of human antibiotic consumption comes from the “ACCESS group” of antibiotics, which is considered crucial for treating common infections with a low risk of AMR development.
The group also targets a 30-50% reduction in antimicrobial use in the global agrifood system compared to current levels.
A more ambitious goal is to eliminate by 2030 the use of medically important antimicrobials for non-veterinary and non-phytosanitary purposes in human and animal medicine, as well as in plant production and agri-food systems.

Misuse of Antibiotics in agriculture and by poultry firms:

The overuse of antibiotics in agriculture contributes to the spread of drug-resistant pathogens, posing significant health risks worldwide.
Two poultry farms in southern Telangana were found using antibiotics for growth promotion and preventative purposes, a practice promoted by Venky’s on its website.
The use of antibiotics for these purposes is banned in the EU and the U.S., with the WHO opposing it due to the risk of diminishing drug effectiveness for treating human infections.
- In 2018, investigations revealed Venky’s was selling colistin, a critical “last resort” antibiotic, as a growth promoter, leading to criticism and a subsequent ban by the Indian government.
- Despite previous claims of using antibiotics solely for therapeutic reasons, Venky’s is now reported to be selling drugs for preventive use and growth promotion.
Antibiotics used by them are colistin, Tylomix, Amo-premix with amoxicillin, and Solutyl and Vendox.

Source: TH