BharatNotes
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
/ˌæntɪmaɪˈkroʊbiəl rɪˈzɪstəns/The ability of microorganisms — bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites — to survive and multiply in the presence of antimicrobial drugs (antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals) that were previously effective against them, rendering standard treatments ineffective and transforming once-treatable infections into potentially lethal conditions.
Context & Background
AMR directly caused an estimated 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019 (The Lancet); driven by irrational prescribing, over-the-counter antibiotic sales, incomplete courses, and antibiotic use in agriculture; India launched the National Action Plan on AMR (2017) and the Red Line Campaign; the WHO classifies antibiotics into Access, Watch, and Reserve (AWaRe) categories to guide rational use.
UPSC Exam Relevance
GS3 (Science & Technology), GS2 (Health). Prelims: AMR deaths (1.27 million, 2019), ESKAPE pathogens, WHO AWaRe classification, Red Line Campaign. Mains: asked to discuss AMR as a "silent pandemic" — India's dual role as both a major antibiotic consumer and a key manufacturer; the One Health approach to combating AMR; and the need for new antibiotics, rapid diagnostics, and antibiotic stewardship programmes.
