MICROBIOLOGY
Antimicrobial stewardship and diagnostics needed to tackle the threat of AMR
Recently The Royal College of Pathologists’ virtual conference on antimicrobial resistance brought together leading experts from around the world to discuss the urgent need for solutions to this global health crisis. Here, Carmel Aldridge presents key takeaways from the conference, shedding light on the essential roles of accurate diagnostics and effective antimicrobial stewardship.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) arises when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist the effects of antimicrobial drugs, rendering standard treatments ineffective and leading to persistent infections. This process is accelerated by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals, and agriculture, as well as inadequate sanitation and healthcare infrastructure, particularly
in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), bacterial AMR was responsible for approximately 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019, contributing to 4.95 million deaths overall.1
A key takeaway from the conference is that AMR does not affect populations equally. Regions with weaker healthcare systems and limited access to sanitation,
like Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, bear the highest burden. Dame Sally Davies, the UK’s Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance discussed how economically disadvantaged communities are disproportionately affected by AMR, lacking access to quality healthcare and facing greater exposure to resistant infections. The World Bank warns that AMR could drive an additional $1 trillion in healthcare costs and cause annual gross domestic product (GDP) losses between $1 trillion and $3.4 trillion by 2030.2
The role of diagnostics Effective diagnostics are fundamental to combatting AMR. Rapid, precise identification of pathogens and their resistance profiles allows healthcare providers to prescribe appropriate antibiotics, minimising unnecessary broad-spectrum antibiotic use. This is essential in identifying infections caused by highly resistant pathogens, such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. WHO advocates for ‘diagnostic
Rapid, precise identification of pathogens and their resistance profiles is key to halting AMR. 38
stewardship’, which emphasises microbiological diagnosis, including antimicrobial susceptibility testing, as an essential part of infectious disease management. However, inadequate diagnostic infrastructure, especially in LMICs, limits the ability to monitor and respond to AMR effectively. As Dame
FEBRUARY 2025
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