Antimicrobial Resistance: A One Health Approach to Global Health

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most pressing health challenges of the 21st century. As antibiotics and other antimicrobials lose effectiveness, the risk of untreatable infections rises globally. Addressing AMR demands a unified strategy—what experts call the One Health approach—recognizing the deep connections between human medicine, veterinary care, and environmental health.

What Is Antimicrobial Resistance?

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to withstand medications designed to kill them. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics in healthcare, agriculture, and animal husbandry fuel this resistance. Without urgent action, simple infections could become deadly again, undermining decades of medical progress.

The One Health Perspective

The One Health framework views human, animal, and environmental health as interconnected. In this model, AMR is not confined to hospitals but spreads through farms, water systems, and ecosystems. Livestock exposed to antibiotics for growth promotion or disease prevention contribute significantly to resistant strains. These microbes can transfer to humans via direct contact, contaminated food, or environmental pathways like water runoff.

For example, a 2023 WHO report highlighted rising resistance in Escherichia coli and Salmonella strains, linked to agricultural antibiotic use in several regions. Environmental contamination with antimicrobial residues further accelerates resistance development, creating a cycle that threatens global health security.

Supporting Roles in the One Health Ecosystem

• Human Medicine: Overprescription and patient non-compliance degrade antibiotic efficacy. Improving prescribing practices and patient education are vital steps.
  
• Veterinary Care: Responsible use in animals—especially in livestock—limits resistance spread. Regulatory frameworks and veterinary oversight help minimize unnecessary antimicrobial use.
  
• Environmental Health: Proper disposal of pharmaceuticals and wastewater treatment reduce environmental contamination. Protecting water sources prevents resistant organisms from entering food and human exposure pathways.

Current Global Trends and Risks

Recent data from the global antimicrobial resistance monitoring network shows escalating resistance rates across multiple pathogens. In 2024, the CDC reported a 15% increase in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis cases worldwide. Meanwhile, resistance in common bacterial infections like urinary tract and skin infections is rising in both high- and low-income countries, stressing healthcare systems and increasing treatment costs.

Climate change and urbanization compound these challenges by altering ecosystems and increasing human-animal interactions, creating new opportunities for resistant microbes to emerge and spread.

Strategies for a Coordinated Response

Combating AMR requires cross-sector collaboration. Key strategies include:

• Strengthening surveillance systems to track resistance trends across sectors.
  
• Promoting education for healthcare providers, farmers, and the public on responsible antimicrobial use.
  
• Enforcing regulations that limit non-therapeutic antibiotic use in agriculture.
  
• Investing in research for new antimicrobials, rapid diagnostics, and alternative therapies.
  
• Enhancing wastewater and environmental management to reduce contamination.

Countries adopting integrated One Health policies—such as those in the European Union and parts of Southeast Asia—have seen measurable reductions in resistance rates, proving that coordinated action works.

Call to Action

Addressing antimicrobial resistance is a shared responsibility. Healthcare professionals, policymakers, farmers, and individuals must act together. Support policies that promote sustainable antibiotic use, stay informed on infection prevention, and advocate for stronger global health initiatives. Small choices today safeguard health tomorrow. Together, we can turn the tide on AMR through unified, science-based action.

By understanding AMR through a One Health lens, we build resilience—not just for hospitals, but for communities, ecosystems, and future generations.