The United Nations (UN) launched a campaign. Global warning: Prepare for ‘superbugs’ that could kill 10 million people a year by 2050. This fight against pollution is key as it accelerates the emergence, transmission and spread of resistance. antimicrobials (RAM)Its economic cost could represent a decline in world GDP of at least $3.4 billion per year by 2030, which 24 million more driven into extreme poverty.
‘Super bugs’ Species of bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi that are resistant to most antibiotics and other drugs used to treat infections. Experts have already warned: If we act now can cause more deaths than cancer.
AMR occurs when these strains become resistant to antimicrobial treatments that would normally kill them or limit their growth.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has included AMR in its scope. list of top 10 health threats on the planetand the UN sees limiting its appearance and spread as “basic”preserving modern medicine’s ability to cure diseaseto minimize the risks that endanger food safety and to protect the environment.
The risk is too great: “If antimicrobials lose their effectiveness, modern medicine risks being unable to treat even mild infections.“, exposing the UN.
Actually, ‘superbugs are already among us’. In 2019, they were directly linked 1.27 million deaths worldwide. Infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens indirect link to 4.95 million deathsAccording to the latest report of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
triple planet crisis
“Global attention to AMR has focused primarily on the human health and agriculture sectors, but There is growing evidence that the environment not only plays a key role in the emergence, transmission and spread of antimicrobial resistance, it is also an important part of the solution to combat it.“emphasizes the UN, which proposes a multidimensional approach to understanding its appearance, transmission and spread in the environment.
Antimicrobial resistance is “closely linked to the planetary triple crisis”: climate change, loss of natural resources and biodiversity, and pollution.
“A crisis that worsens as a result of human activities and unsustainable patterns of consumption and production,” the UN accuses. In such a way that tackling climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution is essential, as all three encourage the emergence of ‘superbugs’.
The fact that the frequency of use and incorrect dosage of antimicrobials is increasing, among others microbial stressors (for example, the presence of pollutants) creates favorable conditions for pathogenic microorganisms to develop resistance, both in humans (causing disease) and in the environment (causing sources of infection such as wastewater).
This prevention According to the UN, “The essence and fullness of the response to AMR is, the environment is an important part of the solution“.
Limit antimicrobial use
The UNEP report states that the response to the AMR should be based on the “” approach.a healthRecognizing the interdependence between the environment and human, veterinary and phytosanitary, while proposing comprehensive action at the global, regional and local levels, with the participation of all sectors, stakeholders, and governmental and non-governmental “governmental organizations”.
The document contains a long list. Answers. With regard to the pharmaceutical sector, it recommends “strengthening regulatory frameworks and inspection systems, incentives and subsidies to ensure that updates are implemented in the manufacturing process” of drugs.
One of the prominent suggestions in the food and agriculture sector is “limit the use of antimicrobials and reduce waste disposal into the environment protect water resources from damage caused by pollutants, resistant microorganisms and antimicrobial residues”.
It also claims that “Avoid the use of antibiotics used as a last resort in human medicineimprove “and” management fertilizers fecal origin.
With regard to health care, “as well as the disposal, acquisition, management and treatment of antimicrobial drugs removal of hazardous waste from health centers“.
“To strengthen scientific research and innovation frameworks reduce antimicrobial use minimizing the release of resistant and antimicrobial microorganisms to the environment” is another solution proposed by the UN.
Reference report: https://www.unep.org/es/resources/superbugs/environmental-action