1. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is Critical to the Health System Development and Economic Growth
in Resource-Limited Countries: Time for Tackling AMR with “One Health” Approach
Abstract
Wubshet Mamo*, DVM, MSc, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor, Global Health, University of Washington, USA
Antimicrobial drugs play a critical role in reducing the burden of communicable diseases; however resistance to antimicrobial
drugs is also increasing mortality and morbidity from infectious diseases and scarce resource in resource-limited countries.
AMR is adding profound costs to healthcare. Although, appearance of drug resistance is a continuous phenomenon in
microorganisms, its amplification and spread is promoted through the unregulated and improper utilization of antimicrobial
agents (antibiotics and related therapeutics for medicinal use), the use of fake and counterfeit medicines, poor prescribing
habits and non-compliance to prescribed treatments. AMR presents an ever-increasing global public health threat that
involves major microbial pathogens and antimicrobial drugs. In low-income countries like African countries, AMR frequently
occurs in microorganisms that are likely to be transmitted in the community such as organisms causing pneumonia, diarrheal
diseases, tuberculosis (TB), sexually transmitted diseases, meningococcal infection and malaria.
AMR threatens the effectiveness of successful treatment of infections in human and animals and requires a range of
interventions and multidisciplinary teams approach. To combat AMR appropriately and effectively, concerted collaborative
efforts are necessary across the human health (human medicine), animal health (veterinary medicine) and environment
sectors. Therefore, it needs a One Health, an integrated approach considering human, and animal health, and the
environment, enhancing cooperation and collaboration between physicians, veterinarians, other scientific health and
environmental professionals to ensuring a robust response to the threat of AMR. It is also necessary to promote One Health
approaches to policies, practices and behaviors that could minimize the risk of AMR emergence and spread. Surveillance of
bacterial resistance, understanding the evolution of resistance, and the mechanisms of transmissibility, building the capacity
of clinical laboratories to confirm drug-resistant, strong and efficient interaction between doctors, patients, veterinarians,
adaption of new diagnostic technologies to enable rapid identification of viral and bacterial infections and update research on
AMR are cornerstone in the fight against AMR.
In conclusion, AMR is a serious threat to the public health system and economic growth of countries in particular countries
with poor economy. It is serious that the increase in the prevalence of drug-resistant pathogens is occurring at a time when
the development of new antimicrobial agents is slowing. This may lead to facing potentially untreatable infections. The
emergence, mode of transmission and the essentials of better control of AMR are already well known, what is needed is
urgent cross-sector actions in line with the One Health approach.
*E-mail: wubshetmam@yahoo.com; Cell phone: +251 911 821 624