Preventing antimicrobial resistance.

Medicines that are used to treat infections are called antimicrobials. These medicines play an important role in fighting infections in people who may be at a higher risk of getting an infection, such as those having surgery or receiving cancer treatment.

Infections are caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoan parasites. Widespread use of antimicrobials has been linked to microbes changing and becoming resistant to treatment. This means that the antimicrobials we have available no longer stop all microbes causing the infection. Some survive to cause long: lasting and severe infections. This is known as antimicrobial resistance (AMR). New antibiotic resistance mechanisms threaten our ability to treat common bacterial infections and, without urgent action, we are heading for a post: antibiotic era, in which common infections and minor injuries could once again be fatal. The WHO describes AMR as one of the biggest threats to global public health, stating that 'the world urgently needs to change the way it prescribes and uses antibiotics. Even if new medicines are developed, without behaviour change, antibiotic resistance will remain a major threat'. It has been well recognised that the threat of AMR in developing countries, such as Pakistan, where a large proportion of the population has limited access to education and healthcare, is significant. In common with the rest of the world, there has been a reported upsurge in infections due to resistant strains in Pakistan. For example, the 2019 WHO report ranked Pakistan amongst the top five countries with the highest number of neonatal deaths caused by resistant bacteria. Pakistan is also the third: highest antibiotic: consuming country among low: and middle: income countries (LMICs).

At the level of healthcare facilities, antimicrobial: resistant infections are one of the biggest challenges for hospitals in delivering safe and effective health care. Patients with antimicrobial: resistant infections are more likely to experience ineffective treatment, treatment toxicity, recurrent infections, delayed recovery, and in the worst...