Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a persistent global public health issue, with an estimated 10 million deaths annually projected by 2050. Annually, about 7.7 million people die due to bacterial infections, and 4.95 million deaths are related to antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) disproportionately bear the brunt of AMR, with around 4.3 million of the nearly 5 million AMR-associated deaths occurring in these regions. AMR arises when microorganisms evolve to survive antibiotic treatment. The misuse of antibiotics, including over prescription, inappropriate dosing, and their widespread use in agriculture, is the primary driver of the current antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis. These practices expose bacteria to sub lethal concentrations of antibiotics, promoting the survival of resistant strains while eliminating susceptible ones. Over time, this selective pressure accelerates the evolution and spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens, undermining the effectiveness of existing treatments and escalating the global burden of infectious diseases. This review discusses the current strategies being employed by international governmental organizations to address the issue of antibiotic resistance. These strategies include the United Nations' (UN's) 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the "One Health Approach," a system that recognizes the interconnected health of humans, animals, and the environment that incorporates a multi-disciplinary effort to achieve the best possible health outcome. As part of international and regional action plans, there is still a need to emphasize the significance of public awareness. Recent initiatives, such as antibiotic stewardship programs, have demonstrated up to a 30% reduction in healthcare-associated resistant infections. Global surveillance networks have reported multidrug-resistant organisms in over 40% of hospital-acquired infections across LMICs. Furthermore, public awareness campaigns have been shown to improve responsible antibiotic usage by approximately 20% in target populations. Combating antimicrobial resistance requires coordinated action across individuals, communities, and governments. Key strategies include promoting antibiotic stewardship, strengthening infection control, advancing antimicrobial research, improving surveillance, and raising public awareness. Implementing these measures is crucial to preserving antibiotic efficacy and protecting human and animal health for future generations.

Key words: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), AMR prevention strategies, Combatting antimicrobial resistance, Global AMR strategies, One Health Approach to AMR, Sustainable Developmental Goals against AMR.