Rise of AMR could result in up to 10 million annual deaths by 2050: un report

February 10, 2023

General Studies Paper 3

Context:

UNEP released a new report – Bracing for Superbugs: Strengthening environmental action in the One Health response to antimicrobial resistance.
It provides evidence that the environment plays a key role in the development, transmission, and spread of Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR).

About AMR:

Antimicrobials are agents intended to kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms. They include antibiotics, fungicides, antiviral agents, and parasiticides.
AMR occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi become resistant to antimicrobial treatments to which they were previously susceptible.

Key findings of the report:

Up to 10 million deaths could occur annually by 2050 due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), on par with the 2020 rate of global deaths from cancer.
Pollution in key sectors of the economy contributes to the development, transmission, and spread of AMR.
AMR’s economic toll could result in a GDP drop of at least USD 3.4 trillion annually by 2030,pushing 24 million more people into extreme poverty
Microorganisms (particularly bacteria) can acquire resistance following contact with resistant microorganisms.
AMR challenges are linked to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.
Three key sectors of AMR development and spread in the environment: Pharmaceuticals and other chemical manufacturing, agriculture and food production, and Healthcare.

Suggestions in the report:

Create robust and coherent national-level governance, planning, regulatory and legal frameworks.
Increase global efforts to improve integrated water management and promote water, sanitation, and hygiene to limit the development and spread of AMR.
Increase integration of environmental considerations into AMR National Action Plans.
Establish international standards for what constitutes a good microbiological indicator of AMR
Environmental monitoring and surveillance
AMR requires a One Health response that recognizes that the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment are closely linked and interdependent.