Losing the battle against superbugs

Misuse of antibiotics is fuelling antimicrobial resistance (AMR)—a growing threat that could lead to higher death rates, longer illnesses, rising healthcare costs, and widespread poverty

- Archana Jyoti

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM), in collaboration with the Centre for Infectious Disease Research (CIDR) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru will host its first-ever symposium in India from October 29-31, 2025 on the One Health Approach to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threat.

The symposium will deliberate global collaboration, accelerate research, and promote the development of solutions that recognize the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. Professor Amit Singh, a faculty member at IISc and co-host of the event said that the, “Partnerships like ours with ASM will help strengthen global efforts to accelerate solutions and make lasting connections.”

The statistics that have prompted this movement are alarming. Over the next 25 years, someone will die every three minutes from common, preventable, and formerly treatable health conditions, simply because the antibiotics---commonly prescribed to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, including skin infections, urinary tract infections, and life-threatening illnesses like pneumonia and sepsis-- will no longer be effective.