The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in a new report has identified 5 major contributors to the global development, transmission and spread of antimicrobial resistance(AMR).

• The spread of Antimicrobial resistance is increased by pollution from human activities in the environment affecting both humans as well as animals.
• The major sources of AMR mentioned in the report released by UNEP of the 5th session of UN environment assembly include:
  • Poor sanitation, sewage and waste effluent
  • Effluent and waste from pharmaceuticals manufacturing
  • Effluent and waste from healthcare facilities
  • Use of antimicrobial and manure in crop production
  • Releases, effluent and waste in animal production.

Poor sanitation, sewage and waste effluent

• Untreated industrial wastewater:About 56% of domestic and industrial waste water is released globally into the environment with little or no treatment.
• Lack of sanitation:The lack of sanitation, poorly functioning sanitation or fragmented systems (open defecation, poorly contained pit latrines, septic tanks and sewers) that contaminate water sources spread AMR.
• Improper disposal of unused drugs:It also includes releases from unused drugs disposed of in toilets, bins or waste dumps and leaching from open waste dumps.

Pharmaceuticals manufacturing

• Release of API and antimicrobials:The release of active pharmaceutical ingredients and high concentrations of antimicrobials in the environment without its proper treatment is one of the critical drivers of AMR.
• It also includes the solid waste and effluents from these institutions because of the presence of residual antimicrobials.

Healthcare facilities 

• The effluent hospital solid waste from healthcare facilities is an important source of discharges of resistant microbes, antimicrobial pollution and antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) because antimicrobials are frequently used in healthcare.

Antimicrobials and manure in crop production

• Pesticides with antimicrobial properties like antibiotics & fungicides are widely used in industrial crop production; it could impact AMR in the environment.
• It includes untreated manure and wastewater which may contain pharmaceutical residues, ARGs and resistant microbes intentionally applied to soil and crops.

Releases, effluent, waste in animal production

• The report emphasises the environmental contamination caused by pharmaceutical residues, ARGs and resistant microbes derived from aquatic as well as terrestrial animal production manure and effluent.
• The use of antibiotics and parasiticides when released in the environment is another source of concern in aquaculture.

IMPACT OF AMR

• Effect on people: As per the report, AMR could kill up to 10 million people per year by 2050.
• Economic impact: according to the estimates of the report, the shortfall in gross domestic product caused by AMR could be $3.4 trillion per year by 2030, with an additional 24 million people pushed into extreme poverty.

Road ahead

• The report identifies focus areas for reducing the burden of AMR by focusing on prevention and mitigation actions and promoting sustainable production and consumption.It include:
  • Enhancing environmental governance, planning and regulatory frameworks
  • Identifying and targeting priority AMR-relevant pollutants
  • Improving reporting, surveillance and monitoring
  • Prioritising financing, innovation and capacity development

UNEP works at the global, regional, and country level to support the implementation of AMR-related measures that would also contribute to the achievement of Agenda 2030 and the sustainable development goals.