National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance: Need for greater focus on environmental spread
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) arises when microorganisms such as bacteria survive exposure to a drug that would normally kill them or stop their growth. AMR is globally recognized as an emerging public health threat as antibiotics are becoming increasingly ineffective against disease-causing bacteria. AMR is linked with greater spread of infectious diseases, difficulty in treating common infections, uncertainty in success of high-end therapeutic procedures, longer hospital stays, and more expensive treatments. If not contained, AMR is believed to cause significant impact to the health of humans, animals and the environment.