Antimicrobial Resistance In Post-Pandemic Era

Over the years microorganisms have developed Oresistance to antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and anthelmintics by a phenomenon known as antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

- Asha Rani, Purnima Khatri, Ramendra Pati Pandey and Saif Hameed

Millions of people die each year as a result of lack of comprehensive measures to combat AMR. Most patients in impoverished countries self-treat because either public hospitals are overloaded or would impose higher financial obligations, or they just want to see whether they get better. As a result, the high number of patients who seek antimicrobials directly can have a significant influence on antimicrobial usage rates and AMR development. The substantial rise in wide-ranging antibiotics use in COVID19-affected nations has put harmful microorganisms under a lot of selection pressure. As a result, in the postpandemic period, AMR will become a global epidemic in near future.

Excessive usage of disinfectants such as alcohol, quaternary ammonium compounds, phenols, hydrogen peroxide, and solvents, which triggers microbial DNA damage, has risen during COVID-19. The stimulation of translesion synthesis polymerases (TLS) by bacteria in response to DNA damage tolerates and bypasses unrepaired DNA lesions, resulting in mutations that contribute to the development of AMR. According to research, bacterial and fungal infections, some of which are resistant to antibiotics and antifungals, account for roughly half of the deaths of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Antimicrobial-resistant diseases are most common in healthcare settings like hospitals and nursing homes, where infections can spread quickly among people with weakened immune systems. Some resistant strains viz. Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, MDR E. coli, Enterococcus Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter have been reported in patients with COVID-19. Additionally, due to differences in healthcare practices, antibiotic medication, and infection prevention techniques, AMR rates would be varied.