{"id":16793,"date":"2023-08-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-16T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/16-08-2023\/antimicrobial-resistance-air-pollution\/"},"modified":"2025-07-10T17:56:02","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T12:26:02","slug":"antimicrobial-resistance-air-pollution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/16-08-2023\/antimicrobial-resistance-air-pollution","title":{"rendered":"Antimicrobial Resistance & Air Pollution"},"content":{"rendered":"

Antimicrobial Resistance & Air Pollution<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Syllabus: GS2\/ Health, Government Policies & Interventions, Issues Arising out of their Design & Implementation<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

In Context<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
    \n
  • According to the Lancet Planetary Journal, Air laden with unhealthy amounts of PM2.5 can become a highway for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Particulate Matter & Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
      \n
    • According to a new analysis published in The Lancet Planetary Journal, this <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>particulate matter, called PM2.5,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> could drive the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>world\u2019s next public health threat \u2013 antimicrobial resistance (AMR)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>, when disease-causing bacteria become immune to the drugs that could once destroy them.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • The researchers wrote that this airborne spread could have resulted in premature deaths in <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>India and China<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>, and other population-dense countries.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Some<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> 18.2 million years of life could have been lost<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> this way<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> in 2018 worldwide<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>, resulting in an economic loss of $395 billion (more than Pakistan\u2019s GDP).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Relation of PM & AMR<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
        \n
      • The authors of the journal have found that<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> every 10% rise in air pollution<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> was correlated with an <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>AMR increase of 1.1%<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> across countries and continents.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • PM2.5 emissions from <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>burning firewood in homes <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>for cooking or heating could <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>carry bacteria and antibiotic-resistant genes<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>, be transmitted over long distances, and eventually be inhaled by individuals.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • PM2.5 is<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> known to penetrate the body\u2019s defences <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>and enter the bloodstream and lungs \u2013 a symptom associated with chronic conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and asthma.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • The analysis found that the contribution of PM2.5 to AMR was found to be greater than that of antibiotic use or <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>due to drinking water.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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        \n

        What is Particulate Matter (PM)?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
          \n
        • Particulate matter (PM) are inhalable and respirable particles composed of sulphate, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust and water.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • PM 2.5 refers to tiny particles or droplets in the air that are 2 \u00bd microns or less in width.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • Sources: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>The most common human-made sources include internal combustion engines, power generation, industrial processes, agricultural processes, construction, and residential wood and coal burning.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
            \n
          • The most common natural sources for PM2.5 are dust storms, sandstorms, and wildfires.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

            What is Antimicrobial Resistance?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
              \n
            • About: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> and no longer respond to medicines making <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>infections harder to treat <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>and increasing the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>risk of disease spread, severe illness and death<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              AMR in India<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
                \n
              • Data show that India leads the world in antibiotic use.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                  \n
                • The indiscriminate use of antibiotics among<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> people and animals<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>poor hygiene and sanitation<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>, and<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> lack of awareness<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> have fueled this rise.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                • The <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>COVID-19 pandemic<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> only exacerbated these issues, together with a <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>surge in the sales of antibiotics<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> to treat bronchitis and pneumonia.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                • The higher circulation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) across humans, animals, and environments also creates <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>new transmission pathways<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                • A 2019 study found<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> India\u2019s rivers and lakes<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> to be concentrated with antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Pharmaceutical wastewater and untreated effluents <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>from hospitals were the root causes<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Major Causes<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
                    \n
                  • Antibiotic resistance occurs when <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>bacteria evolve to evade antibiotics<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Overuse and misuse<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> of antibiotics are the biggest drivers of resistance.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                      \n
                    • That means that the<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> more we use antibiotics, the worse the problem<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> of antibiotic resistance becomes.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                    • Other drivers of antimicrobial resistance include:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                        \n
                      • The lack of access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for both humans and animals,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                      • Poor infection and disease prevention and control in healthcare facilities and farms,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                      • Poor access to quality, affordable medicines, vaccines and diagnostics,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                      • Lack of awareness and knowledge.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        Issues<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
                          \n
                        • Difficulty in treating infections: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Microbial resistance to antibiotics has made it harder to treat infections such as <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>pneumonia, tuberculosis (TB), blood-poisoning <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>(septicaemia) and several <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>food-borne diseases<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                        • Rising health cost: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>AMR also imposes a huge health cost on the patient in the form of longer hospitalisation, health complications and delayed recovery.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                            \n
                          • AMR adds to the burden of communicable diseases and strains the health systems of a country.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                          • Other patients also at risk: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>It puts patients undergoing major surgeries and treatments, such as chemotherapy, at a greater risk. Many times, patients recover from advanced medical procedures but succumb to untreatable infections.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                          • Antimicrobials in the agri-food system: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>There is also an urgent need to reduce the usage of antimicrobials in the agri-food system. Scientific evidence suggests that the less antimicrobials are used, it is less likely that there will be an emergence of drug resistance.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                            Measures Taken to Rising Antimicrobial Resistance in India<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
                              \n
                            • National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR): <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>It has a focus on the One Health approach & was launched with the aim of involving various stakeholders ministries\/departments.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                            • AMR Surveillance Network: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>ICMR established the AMR surveillance and research network (AMRSN) to generate evidence and capture trends and patterns of drug resistant infections in the country.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                            • AMR Research & International Collaboration:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> ICMR has taken initiatives to develop new drugs \/medicines through international collaborations in order to strengthen medical research in AMR.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                            • India\u2019s National Action Plan for containment of AMR: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>It\u00a0 focuses on an integrated One Health approach and involves coordination at the state, national and international levels.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                            • Key priority of National Health Policy 2017: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>In its National Health Policy 2017, India has identified managing AMR as a key priority and since then the health ministry has taken several initiatives to nip the epidemic that is growing fast globally.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                              Suggestions & way ahead<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
                                \n
                              • Addressing Air pollution: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>AMR is not new. The present focus on environmental factors, however, illustrates that in the fight against antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, we need to address air pollution if we are to plug one hole, while measures to combat other drivers continue.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                                  \n
                                • Antibiotic use in itself is expected to rapidly increase in low- and middle-income countries like India by 2050.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                • Learning from China: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>The analysis hailed China\u2019s case as instructive. In the 2010s, China implemented restrictions on antibiotic sales and began to tackle air pollution on a war footing.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                                    \n
                                  • In the next seven years, air pollution declined as much as it had in the U.S. in three decades.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                                  • Ultimately, the country reaped gains against the twin challenges of PM2.5 and AMR \u2013 a trend researchers predict is likely to endure.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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                                    Daily Mains Question<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

                                    [Q] <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a classic \u201ctragedy of the commons\u201d. Examine. Analyse the correlation between pollution & antibiotic resistance.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                    According to the Lancet Planetary Journal, Air laden with unhealthy amounts of PM2.5 can become a highway for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[29],"class_list":["post-16793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial-analysis","tag-thehindu"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16793","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16793"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16793\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16798,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16793\/revisions\/16798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16793"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16793"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16793"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}