World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022 ends with Muscat Ministerial Manifesto on AMR

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022 ends with Muscat ministerial Manifesto, calling upon different stakeholders to implement Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) National Action Plans.

Muscat Ministerial Manifesto on AMR

• Target 1: Reduce the total amount of antimicrobials used in the agri-food system at least by 30-50% by 2030 from the current level.
• Target 2: Zero use of Critically important antimicrobials (CIA).
• Target 3: Ensure that ACCESS group antibiotics are at least ≥60% of overall antibiotic consumption in humans by 2030.

About World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW):

• It is a global campaign that is celebrated annually to improve awareness and understanding of AMR.
• It encourages best practices among the public, One Health stakeholders, and policymakers to reduce the further emergence and spread of AMR.
• Theme 2022: “Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together”

Meaning of Antimicrobial Resistance:

• Antimicrobial resistance is the resistance acquired by any microorganism (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and anthelmintics) that are used to treat infections.
• As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist, and may spread to others.
• Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”.

Reasons for the Spread of AMR:

• Contamination around pharmaceutical manufacturing sites where untreated waste releases large amounts of active antimicrobials into the environment.
• 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.

Measures were taken by India to Rising Anti-Microbial Resistance

• A national program on AMR containment was launched during the 12^th FYP in 2012-17. Under this program, AMR Surveillance Network has been strengthened by establishing labs in State Medical College.
• National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) focusing on the One Health approach was launched on 19th April 2017 with the aim of involving various stakeholder ministries/departments
• AMR Surveillance Network: ICMR has established the AMR surveillance and research network (AMRSN) in 2013, to generate evidence and capture trends and patterns of drug-resistant infections in the country.
• AMR Research & International Collaboration: ICMR has taken initiatives to develop new drugs /medicines through international collaborations in order to strengthen medical research in AMR.