Hardwiring antimicrobial resistance mitigation into global policy

Abstract

In the wake of COVID-19, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become termed the ‘silent pandemic’, with a growing number of editorials warning that international momentum for AMR mitigation is being lost amidst the global turmoil of COVID-19, economic crises and the climate emergency. Yet, is it sufficient to now simply turn the volume of the pre-existing AMR policy discourse back up? Although existing AMR initiatives have previously achieved high levels of international attention, their impact remains limited. We believe it is time to critically reflect on the achievements of the past 7 years and adapt our AMR policies based on the substantial literature and evidence base that exists on the socioecological drivers of AMR. We argue that developing a more sustainable and impactful response requires a shift away from framing AMR as a unique threat in competition with other global challenges. Instead, we need to move towards an approach that emphasizes AMR as inherently interlinked and consciously hardwires upstream interventions into broader global developmental agendas.

Non-Canonical Aspects of Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance

“…Although seldom looked at in this way, treatment failures due to AR fit the definition of “health outcome” that are influenced by SDH. The evolving but still scarce knowledge on socioeconomic drivers of AR could result in a new approach to the problem and change priorities in its mitigation [ 404 , 405 ]; this is especially relevant in LMICs, as discussed above.…”

Current and Future Flow Cytometry Applications Contributing to Antimicrobial Resistance Control

“…Social and economic determinants have been identified as important enablers and facilitators of AMR occurrence and spread [ 10 , 11 ]. The multifaceted nature of AMR requires efforts to permanently integrate it into national and international sustainability and development agendas [ 12 ].…”

An Awkward Fit: Antimicrobial Resistance and the Evolution of International Health Politics (1945-2022)

“…43 While this is not to detract from the immediate need to address the mortality caused by resistant priority pathogens, 44 adopting an ecological approach to mitigating AMR opens a long-term horizon for learning from other planetary challenges. 45 In the case of climate change, the international community has acknowledged that the well-being of human societies depends on maintaining global warming within a narrow temperature range. Although far from perfect, resulting international agreements have acknowledged that maintaining this temperature range for future generations requires significant investment by current generations as well as trade-offs between economic sectors and nations.…”