The economic burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) significantly exceeds the confines of the clinical world, with lasting repercussions for a society's health and financial systems, as explained by Kevin Outterson, a professor at Boston University and founding executive director of CARB-X, in a recent interview with Infection Control Today®(ICT®). The conversation unveiled a critical discrepancy…
An alarming increase in common bacterial infections resistant to antibiotics signals a cause for concern among hospitals worldwide. Experts project that death rates directly linked to drug resistance may soar by the year 2050. As recent as 2023, one in every six laboratory-tested bacterial infections were found to be resistant to antibiotic treatments. The situation…
The fight against antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections, which are estimated to cost millions of lives annually by 2050, has to transcend traditional approaches. More often than not, these AMR infections are contracted within healthcare facilities, leading experts to question current sterilization methods. In fact, research indicates that significant bacterial colonies remain on many hospital surfaces, even…
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a rising global menace, is increasingly affecting specialized tertiary care settings. Nevertheless, countries like Pakistan, sadly, have limited data to examine the influence of seasonal variations, demographics, and healthcare settings on AMR. Aiming to address this data deficit, a recent study has scrutinized the prevalence, AMR patterns, and key determinants at a…
Recent reports point to a mounting public health concern identified as antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This health problem arises when disease-causing germs like bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites develop resistance against the medicines intended to eradicate them. This makes common infections increasingly difficult to manage and treatment options become significantly limited. AMR substantially extends the duration…
In a groundbreaking session at the ESCMID Global 2025 conference in Vienna, Austria, researchers revealed the startling truth that over three million children globally succumbed to infections related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in 2022 alone. This compelling evidence underscores an immediate need for comprehensive strategies to address pediatric AMR, especially in areas bearing the brunt…
Named as a 'silent' crisis, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), a calamitous health hazard bred through the over-utilization of antibiotics, was responsible for approximately 1.4 million deaths in the Indian subcontinent in 2019 alone. Unveiling this enigmatic crisis to the public was a group of committed students at the Goa Institute of Management (GIM), as part of…
A recent analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals a notable advancement in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within US hospitals. Between 2012 to 2022, there's been a decrease in drug-resistant infections. However, it remains a considerable concern, with six common bacterial pathogens responsible for almost 570,000 AMR infections in…
In the former capital of Japan, Kyoto, the impact of deadly plagues is not an unfamiliar reality. The city, in fact, experienced a life-threatening plague as early as 869, leading to the establishment of the Gion festival by the then emperor Seiwa in an attempt to pacify the suspected 'vengeful spirits'. Centuries later, in the…
Within the last two decades, Japan has been grappling with an intense issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), yet managed to make significant strides in combating it. This country muted the alarming resistance of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites to antimicrobial drugs, which was a matter of serious concerns.
Dr. Norio Ohmagari, currently the Director of the…