Can We Truly Combat Antimicrobial Resistance Without a One Health Approach?

Author: Sharif Mohammad Sadat 

Synopsis:
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) poses a dire global health threat, with drug-resistant infections claiming over 700,000 lives annually, potentially rising to 10 million by 2050. As highlighted during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2024 under the theme "Educate. Advocate. Act Now," addressing AMR requires a One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health. In Bangladesh, rampant antibiotic misuse in healthcare and agriculture, combined with untreated waste and environmental contamination, accelerates resistance. Climate change worsens the issue by spreading resistant bacteria.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) has become one of the most alarming global health threats, threatening to undo decades of medical progress. As we observe World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024 with the theme “Educate. Advocate. Act Now,” we face a crucial question: Can we truly address AMR without acknowledging its profound connections to environmental health, agriculture, and the wider healthcare ecosystem? The answer is clear—we cannot. A united effort embracing the principles of the One Health approach is indispensable.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has ranked AMR among the top ten global health threats, with over 700,000 lives lost each year due to drug-resistant infections. Without urgent intervention, this number could escalate to a staggering 10 million deaths annually by 2050.

In countries like Bangladesh, the situation is particularly dire. Here, antibiotics are often overused or misused in both healthcare and agriculture, creating ideal conditions for the emergence of “superbugs”—bacteria that become resistant to treatment, making infections increasingly difficult to manage.

Antibiotic misuse in Bangladesh extends into agriculture, where overuse in livestock and fish farming accelerates resistance and contaminates the environment. Untreated waste from hospitals and pharmaceutical factories flows into rivers like the Buriganga, turning them into hotspots for resistant bacteria.

Additionally, microplastics in these waters provide surfaces where bacteria exchange resistance genes. Climate change worsens this issue, spreading resistant bacteria through floods and rising temperatures, increasing outbreak risks.

Addressing AMR cannot be limited to hospitals—it must extend into our farms, food systems, water sources, and even the air we breathe. This is where the One Health approach becomes crucial, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.

As WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently emphasized, “Antimicrobial resistance is a global health emergency that threatens the achievements of modern medicine.” Tackling AMR demands integrated, cross-sectoral collaboration.

Youth-led organizations have already taken proactive steps to promote cross-disciplinary solutions. The AMR Youth Summits, co-organized by the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF), International Association of Dental Students (IADS), International Veterinary Students’ Association (IVSA), and International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences (IAAS), are powerful examples of young leaders uniting to address AMR. Recognizing the vital role of youth, WHO has also established the WHO Youth Council to amplify young voices in tackling global health challenges like AMR. This platform empowers young people to influence policies, engage in global discussions, and co-create strategies for sustainable solutions.

As Dr. Tedros noted, “Young people should be at the heart of decisions that impact their lives and health.”

To curb AMR effectively, we must adopt a One Health approach that includes environmental sustainability, responsible antibiotic use, and widespread community engagement. This means governments must enforce stricter regulations on pharmaceutical waste disposal, promote sustainable agricultural practices to reduce antibiotic runoff, and support grassroots campaigns led by youth to educate communities on the responsible use of antibiotics.

The fight against AMR is not just a medical challenge but a social, economic, and environmental one. The time for action is now. Doctors, pharmacists, veterinarians, dentists, agricultural scientists, and environmentalists must unite to protect the health of people, animals, and our planet.

We stand at a crossroads: Will we act now to safeguard the efficacy of antibiotics, or will we allow complacency to drive us toward a future where infections are once again untreatable? The responsibility lies with each of us. Can we truly afford to ignore the call to action, knowing what is at stake?