Antimicrobials: Handle with care
Every year, World Antimicrobial Awareness Week aims to increase awareness of global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policy makers to stop the further emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections.As resistance grows to a wider range of drugs, we have broadened the focus of this campaign from antibiotics to all antimicrobials. The theme for World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (18-24 November) 2020 for the human health sector is "United to preserve antimicrobials."
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making common infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.Many factors have accelerated the threat of AMR worldwide—including overuse and misuse of medicines in humans, livestock and agriculture, as well as poor access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene.
Together with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), World Health Organisation (WHO) are calling on all sectors of society to rally around a bold, unified agenda to defeat this global health and development threat. They are launching a One Health Global Leaders Group on AMR to address the urgent challenge posed by antimicrobial resistance.
Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals and plants; Lack of access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for both humans and animals; and COVID-19 are among the main reasons of why AMR is increasing.
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