ABSTRACT:
The problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become one of the most acute global healthcare-related issues, as multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) have become the cause of the extensive morbidity and death rate both in healthcare and general community. AMR spread places a geographical burden on the population because of differences in health infrastructure, antimicrobial abuse and environmental exposure. Surveillance data provided by tools such as the WHO GLASS show the level of resistance is especially high in Southeast Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The trend in Latin America is a growth in community as well as hospital-acquired infections caused by ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, whereas in Europe there are trends of rising resistance levels in Klebsiella pneumoniae and E. coli. On the other hand, a few of the highly developed states claim MRSA stabilization and downfall. International travel and trade have further contributed to the spread of resistance genes like NDM and mcr around the globe increasing the crisis. The most vulnerable groups are children, aged people, and those who have a compromised immune system as it is more likely to happen in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The economic impact of AMR on health systems is burdened by the prolonged hospital stays and the cost of treatment, and this is estimated to cost an annual USD 88 billion globally. To curb the AMR as a transnational and cross departmental challenge, limited development pipeline of new antibiotics and the increased resistance to last-line treatments require immediate investments by the globe in surveillance, access, innovation, and stewardship.