Fighting a Hidden Pandemic: Strategies to Prevent Antimicrobial Resistance in Low-Resource Settings

Antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, is the natural process by which viruses, bacteria and other microbes grow resistant to the drugs developed to act against them, making previously treatable infections newly dangerous. In recent years, overuse of antibiotics in humans, animals and plants has accelerated the evolution of so-called superbugs, including drug-resistant staph bacteria and forms of malaria and tuberculosis that evade current treatments. AMR's impact is most pronounced in poor countries and communities, which often lack the resources to effectively track resistance and control antibiotic use.

This Think Global panel will explore the root causes of antimicrobial resistance, as well as the tools and strategies that can be deployed to prevent it, especially in low-income settings. Panelists will discuss the role of AMR surveillance, faster diagnosis of infectious diseases to prevent unnecessary use of antibiotics, and antibiotic use in agriculture.