WHO Urged Actions to Stop Antimicrobial Resistance

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes World Antimicrobial Resistance Week from November 18, 2023, to November 24, 2023. Throughout this week, the organization highlights data on antimicrobial resistance and emphasizes the importance of regulating antimicrobial agents to minimize resistance.

In a news statement issued on November 17, 2023, the WHO categorizes antimicrobial resistance as one of humanity's top ten global public health threats. With a limited availability of antimicrobial agents, the expansion of antimicrobial resistance significantly threatens human health.

The WHO defines antimicrobial resistance as a lack of response to medicines that treat bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The most common antimicrobial drugs are antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections; other agents may be used to manage non-bacterial diseases.

As more infectious disease strains become resistant to antibiotics, global health will adversely suffer as these conditions become difficult to treat and easier to spread.

The organization estimates that antimicrobial resistance contributes to 5 million deaths annually caused by bacterial infections alone. The number is expected to be significantly higher when considering other infectious diseases.

Minimizing antimicrobial resistance starts at the source. The WHO notes that the main contributor to antimicrobial resistance is the misuse or overuse of antimicrobial agents in healthcare and food production. Some countries have implemented multi-sectoral antimicrobial resistance national action plans to address these concerns.

Despite efforts from 93% of countries to develop these plans, only 68% have implemented some elements of their plans, and even fewer, 27%, have dedicated funding to their programs.

The WHO provides guidance documents to countries hoping to develop antimicrobial resistance national action plans. It has also issued tools like the Access, Watch, Reserve antibiotic book to guide prescription protocols.

According to the WHO news release, World Antimicrobial Resistance Week, “promotes joint actions by leaders and communities across various sectors who are working to preserve antimicrobials and protect the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment. This important topic will be a key focus at the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AMR in September 2024, at which countries will be urged to make bold commitments to tackle AMR and work towards internationally agreed targets and accelerated action in countries.”