Public Health, Occupational Health and Epidemiology Conference

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a worldwide health concern that happens when pathogens are no longer sensitive to the treatments meant to destroy them. With the escalating antibodies and other antimicrobials, managing the diseases becomes difficult; thus, making the infections drag on, hiking the costs of medical fees and most importantly, deaths. AMR is therefore not a disease, but a complex problem that can only be dealt with through multiple public health measures which comprises; antibiotic stewardship programs, infection prevention and control measures, and awareness creation.

Antibiotic overuse and misuse make a big contribution to AMR. In the field of health and farming, antibiotics are used unduly or in the wrong proportions thereby boosting the resistance of the frequent pathogens. Promotion of antibiotic responsibility is a focus in public health sectors and this entails the use of antibiotics whenever necessary and in the appropriate quantities. Stewardship programs include engaging healthcare workers, clients, and the community on issues to do with the use of antibiotics and, the spread of resistant infections.

Some considerations that make infection control essential in health organizations include; the health care facilities are likely to harbor hard-to-kill pathogens such as MRSA and CRE. The major healthcare-associated factors that contribute to the problem of AMR include wrong hygiene and cleaning practices such as washing hands, sterilization, and isolation procedures. It also safeguards patients who cannot afford to get an infection or develop resistance to a certain type of bacteria.

Antimicrobial stewardship, discovery of new drugs, vaccines, adjuvant therapies, diagnostic tests, and point-of-care diagnostics are important in the fight against resistant organisms. However, it is costly, and time-consuming to develop new drugs, and therefore is crucial to maintain the effectiveness of existing antibiotics. AMR is also a concern in agricultural policies: governments strive to discourage the general use of antibiotics in animal rearing as well as in the production of food and feed.

The problem facing the world is one of the contemporary complex threats that are dynamic and require collective effort at the international level. Strategies used in public health overall prevent the future spread of AMR through promotion of antibiotics use and infection prevention and control.