The slogan for this year’s weeklong campaign, is “Handle Antimicrobials with Care”. This year the United Nations Environment Programme is pleased to be joining the other Tripartite groups, FAO, OIE, and WHO to raise global awareness of antimicrobial resistance.
What are the causes of Antimicrobial Resistance?
The inherited or acquired ability of microorganisms that allows them to resist the action of the antimicrobial agent; then, the microorganisms evolve and multiply in their presence. Sometimes, microorganisms that develop resistance to more than one antimicrobial agent are referred to as “superbugs”.
Key factors contributing to Antimicrobial Resistance, AMR, include misuse and overuse of antibiotics in human health, food-animal production and agriculture, along with poor management of waste emanating from households, farms, factories and human and veterinary healthcare settings. More information
Pathways of antibiotics for human and veterinary use in the environment (adapted from Berkner, Konradi and Schonfeld 2014) - Reprinted with permission from @Berkner, Konradi and Schonfeld.
Potential sources of chemical water pollution, adapted from Arefin and Malik, 2018.
