The challenges of estimating the human global burden of disease of antimicrobial resistant bacteria

Abstract

Highlights Current estimates of the global burden of AMR are limited by lack of data. Choice of methodological approach for calculating AMR burden impacts on estimates. Patient-focussed surveillance of drug-resistant infection is a priority. International collaboration to build sustainable AMR surveillance is essential.

Bugs That Can Resist Antibiotics but Not Men: Gender-Specific Differences in Notified Infections and Colonisations in Germany, 2010–2019

“…An estimated 33,000 people die each year due to an infection with antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the European Union and European Economic Area [ 2 ]. Quantification of the true global burden of AMR would be essential to allocate adequate resources and inform public health action, but proved to be difficult due to a lack of high-quality and population-representative data [ 3 , 4 ]. In a working paper, the WHO called for applying the “gender lens” to analysis of surveillance data in order to successfully deal with AMR [ 5 ].…”

Insects, Rodents, and Pets as Reservoirs, Vectors, and Sentinels of Antimicrobial Resistance

“…Currently, no estimates exist on the contribution of AMR in insects, rodents, and pets to the global AMR burden and the associated health risks. As Dunachie et al [ 3 ] pointed out, estimating the global AMR burden in terms of morbidity and mortality is a non-trivial task due to methodological limitations. Therefore, the development and validation of frameworks and metrics for estimating the global contribution of AMR in various environmental compartments or resistomes, including insects, rodents, and pets, require further investigation.…”

“…Global estimates show that approximately 700,000 deaths occur each year due to antimicrobial-resistant bacterial infections [ 2 ]. For example, in 2016 alone, approximately 126,000 people died from extensively drug-resistant and multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis [ 3 , 4 ]. This figure is potentially higher if one considers other antimicrobial-resistant human infections caused by the ESKAPE pathogens [ 5 , 6 ].…”

COVID-19: Questions of Antimicrobial Resistance

“…[6][7][8] Although Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a natural phenomenon of an evolution process that arises as soon as microorganisms are detected, antimicrobial agents 9,10 . Nevertheless, the development of AMR pathogens and their dispersal throughout the planet are the consequences of several years of constant selection pressure from human, especially health professionals irresponsible use of antimicrobials through imprudent use (underuse, overuse, and misuse) [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] , poverty [19][20][21] , poor sewage clearance setup 22-24 , profound escalation of international travel 25,26 , and better healthcare access for progressively more marginalized communities without any regulatory control often increases the imprudent use of antibiotics (Figure 1) 13, [27][28][29] . In this miserable background, the current global pandemic of COVID-19 impacts the antimicrobial consumption and increases the selection pressure of appropriate antimicrobials to curb the additional impending burden of antimicrobial resistance during this pandemic is yet to be determined 27, 30, 31 .…”