Potential Causes of Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance and Preventive Measures in One Health Perspective-A Review

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance, referring to microorganisms’ capability to subsist and proliferate even when there are antimicrobials is a foremost threat to public health globally. The appearance of antimicrobial resistance can be ascribed to anthropological, animal, and environmental factors. Human-related causes include antimicrobial overuse and misuse in medicine, antibiotic-containing cosmetics and biocides utilization, and inadequate sanitation and hygiene in public settings. Prophylactic and therapeutic antimicrobial misuse and overuse, using antimicrobials as feed additives, microbes resistant to antibiotics and resistance genes in animal excreta, and antimicrobial residue found in animal-origin food and excreta are animals related contributive factors for the antibiotic resistance emergence and spread. Environmental factors including naturally existing resistance genes, improper disposal of unused antimicrobials, contamination from waste in public settings, animal farms, and pharmaceutical industries, and the use of agricultural and sanitation chemicals facilitatet its emergence and spread. Wildlife has a plausible role in the antimicrobial resistance spread. Adopting a one-health approach involving using antimicrobials properly in animals and humans, improving sanitation in public spaces and farms, and implementing coordinated governmental regulations is crucial for combating antimicrobial resistance. Collaborative and cooperative involvement of stakeholders in public, veterinary and ecological health sectors is foremost to circumvent the problem effectively.

Keywords:

• antimicrobial resistance
• one health
• antimicrobial resistance gene
• environment
• animal
• wildlife

Abbreviations

AMR-antimicrobial resistance, AMRM-antimicrobial resistant microbes, ARGs-antimicrobial resistance genes, MGEs-mobile genetic elements, MDR-multidrug resistance, MRSA-methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, CFU -colony-forming unit, MGEs-mobile genetic elements, spp-species.

Acknowledgment

The authors acknowledge Wolaita Sodo University.

Author Contributions

All authors have made a significant contribution to this manuscript, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or all these areas; took part in drafting, revising, or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

All authors declared that there is no conflict of interest upon publication of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was not supported by any funding source or institution.