What are Super Bacteria and how do they threaten our progress in healthcare, food production and ultimately life expectancy?

AMR or Antimicrobial Resistance occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and evolve in such ways that they no longer are susceptible to medicines such as antibiotics. This makes them RESISTANT to some of our most trusted and traditional infection treatment methods. This is a looming threat wherein common infections become increasingly difficult or even impossible to treat.

The common causes for AMR are as follows-

1) Indiscriminate and inappropriate intake of antibiotics

2) Non compliance of patients in completing duration of prescribed course

3) Self prescription of medicine or buying of OTC medicines without proper prescription from a licensed doctor.

Super Bacteria, also known as superbugs are multi- and pan- resistant bacteria that can cause infections that are no longer treatable with existing antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics. This results in a sudden requirement for newer antibacterials, with no guarantee that the bacteria will not evolve mechanisms to acquire resistance to the new antibacterials as well.

The cost of AMR to national economies and health systems is significant. Without effective tools, the number of people for whom treatment is failing is only going increasing exponentially. Medical procedures such as surgery, cancer chemotherapy and even organ transplantarion will become more and more risky.