How does antimicrobial resistance pose a significant threat to global public health

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to global public health due to several reasons: 1. Increased mortality: AMR reduces the effectiveness of antibiotics, leading to higher mortality rates from previously treatable infections. 2. Prolonged illness: Treatments for infectious diseases become less effective, resulting in longer periods of illness and higher healthcare costs. 3. Limited treatment options: AMR can render certain antibiotics ineffective, limiting treatment options for infections and making them harder to control. 4. Spread of infections: Resistant bacteria can spread easily within healthcare settings, communities, and even internationally, increasing the likelihood of large-scale outbreaks. 5. Impact on healthcare systems: AMR strains healthcare systems by increasing the demand for resources, including longer hospital stays, additional tests, and more expensive drugs. 6. Economic burden: The economic impact of AMR is substantial, with increased healthcare costs, lost productivity, and effects on trade and tourism. 7. Limiting medical advances: AMR impedes medical progress as it makes various procedures like organ transplants, cancer treatments, and surgeries riskier due to the threat of antibiotic-resistant infections. Addressing AMR requires a coordinated global effort to preserve the efficacy of existing antibiotics, develop new treatment options, promote responsible antibiotic use, and strengthen infection prevention and control measures.