Combating AMR
Breaking the Chain: The Vital Role of Hygiene in Combating Antimicrobial Resistance
Understanding AMR: AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens evolve, becoming resistant to medications. This resistance turns treatable infections into serious health threats. The GHC's AMR position paper and the recent Making hygiene matter in the home and community setting report highlights the urgency of the situation; AMR is a present crisis, not a future threat.
Without prompt action, it is estimated that rates of AMR to commonly used antibiotics could exceed 40%–60% in some countries by 2030,1 and by 2050, around 10 million people could die each year because of resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents.2 The GHC report, Making hygiene matter in the home and community setting stresses that in low- and middle-income countries, the burden of AMR is especially acute due to limited access to clean water and sanitation facilities. Almost nine million of the total predicted deaths in 2050 will be in Africa and Asia.2
Hygiene's Impact: Effective hygiene practices are key to preventing infections and reducing the reliance on antibiotics. The GHC's insights underline that preventing infections at their source significantly reduces the need for antibiotics, a vital step in battling AMR.
Targeted Hygiene Practices: Targeted hygiene involves strategic interventions at critical points where pathogen transmission is most likely. This includes handwashing and surface disinfection. These practices can disrupt the transmission chain, decreasing infection rates and subsequent antibiotic use.
Evidence shows that interventions to promote handwashing can reduce the incidence of common infections that usually require antimicrobials,
with good hand hygiene practices resulting in 50% reduction in the risk of acquiring gastrointestinal infections3 and up to 21% reduction in respiratory infections.4 Respiratory tract infections and acute diarrhoeal diseases account for most antibiotic prescriptions, which are often inappropriate.5 Improving hygiene is therefore an important factor in controlling AMR.
Home and Community Focus: Combating AMR isn't just a hospital issue; it's a community-wide concern. By enhancing hygiene education and practices in homes and communities, we can significantly slow down the spread of AMR.
The fight against AMR demands more than just medical innovation; it requires a fundamental shift in our hygiene practices. The GHC's commitment to raising awareness and shaping policy is crucial in safeguarding antibiotic effectiveness. The GHC report Making hygiene matter in the home and community setting calls for national action plans on AMR to include hygiene and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) recommendations for home and community settings.
Embracing targeted hygiene practices is a collective responsibility we all share for a healthier future.
To learn more about effective hygiene practices and their role in reducing AMR, visit Our Work.
References:
- Maillard JY, et al. Reducing antibiotic prescribing and addressing the global problem of antibiotic resistance by targeted hygiene in the home and everyday life settings: A position paper. Am J Infect Control. 2020;48(9):1090–1099.
- Jim O’Neill. Antimicrobial Resistance: Tackling a crisis for the health and wealth of nations. Available at: https://amr-review.org/ (Accessed: January 2024)
- Curtis V, at el. Effect of washing hands with soap on diarrhoea risk in the community: a systematic review. Lancet Infect Dis. 2003;3(5):275–281.
- Aiello AE, et al. Effect of hand hygiene on infectious disease risk in the community setting: a meta-analysis. Am J Public Health. 2008;98(8):1372–1381.
- Kotwani A, et al. Prescriber and dispenser perceptions about antibiotic use in acute uncomplicated childhood diarrhea and upper respiratory tract infection in New Delhi: Qualitative study. Indian J Pharmacol. 2017;49(6):419–431.