Drivers of Antimicrobial Resistance Arising from Unnecessary Antibiotic Consumption in Afghanistan
Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), Antibiotic misuse, Antimicrobial stewardship, Global health policy, Infectious disease control
Sayed wali Sediqi
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most urgent worldwide health emergencies that jeopardizes the effectiveness of current treatment plans and deteriorates patient outcomes of medical institutions. This study aimed carrying out a synthesis and critical review of the recent scientific evidence on the relationship between antibiotic misuse and the rate of AMR development with particular reference to low and low-middle-income countries, including Afghanistan. The descriptive-analytical approach was used through a systematic review and qualitative synthesis of peer reviewed literature collected through PubMed, WHO and NCBI databases. The results indicate that unreasonable antibiotic usage, which is observed in the form of unwarranted prescriptions, self-medication, inappropriate dosages, and uncontrolled over-the-counter use of antibiotics plays a significant role in the development and spread of resistant pathogens. The total resistance was determined to exceed 40% in those countries where there were poor antimicrobial stewardship practices and those who had weak regulatory policies, and much less in those countries where there were strong governance and good stewardship practices. The facts highlight the importance of broad-scale social education, tightened regulation of the sale of antibiotics, as well as professional education of medics. In addition, institutionalization of antimicrobial stewardship within the national health policy and continued global collaboration was found to be some of the most important steps to control the increasing AMR threat. In conclusion, achieving successful AMR reduction involves a combination of coordinated efforts by all countries worldwide to mitigate AMR and control it through strict policy implementation, community-based education, and professional education sustainability to ensure the effectiveness of antibiotics and ensure therapeutic effectiveness of future generations.
