New report warns that we must reduce pollution to fight superbugs
Source: https://www.lifegate.com/reduce-pollution-fight-superbugs
Author: Roberta Fabbrocino
According to the UN report, poor management of pollution sources from chemicals and pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture, and healthcare economic sectors, along with pollutants from poor sanitation and municipal waste, contribute to the development and spread of AMR. Climate change and antimicrobial resistance are two anthropogenic phenomena. The former can influence the latter through its impact on temperatures and weather patterns. In fact, the higher temperatures associated with climate change have been linked to a rise in AMR infections, just as the extreme weather patterns connected to the climate crisis can facilitate Amr’s appearance and diffusion.The report suggests a systemic approach to the issue of antimicrobial resistance that tackles environmental degradation along with AMR and highlights the importance ofcurtailing pollution. To reduce said pollution, the report calls for national frameworks and collaboration mechanisms, international standards that can be used in risk reduction decisions, increased efforts to better water management and improve sanitation, the establishment of innovative financial incentives and schemes, and the integration of environmental considerations into national action plans on antimicrobial resistance.