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The rapid spread of antimicrobial resistance is a problem that we brought forth, and one that we have to solve. Unrestrained, it shall annihilate the human race and sweep us aside, as a wave of death overwhelming us all. Antimicrobial resistance, or antibiotic resistance is the result of countless years of human hubris, and us thinking that we conquered disease. Yet sadly, it seems that we won the battle, and forgot the war. 

According to the National Library of Medicine, antibiotic resistance occurs due to constant overuse of antibiotics, because of which bacteria can evolve to resist them. This normally occurs when an individual abuses antibiotics due to a slight discomfort, which occurs exceptionally often in this day and age. This constant pressure on the bacteria forces them to either die or evolve to resist the antibiotics. Bacteria contain their genetic material inside containers called plasmids. These receptacles of DNA can be transferred to other bacteria. With this ability, bacteria have the power to spread antibiotic resistance across the entire infection in about a day. What’s worse is that antibiotic resistance needs just a singular bacterium that can resist the antibiotic onslaught for it to spread. 

Let’s take a look at an example: a regular office employee has a runny nose, and is forced to dwell at home until the infection has run its course. He/she has all the general symptoms of a viral infection: fever, headache, body ache and many more. Therefore, to ease their anguish, this hapless individual goes to the doctor and begs for antibiotics to fix the symptoms. Little do they understand that antibiotics do nothing to cure viral infections. Now let us observe the effect this veritable flood of bacteria slaying compounds has. Due to the repetitive massacres of their ancestors, the newest generations of bacteria start developing resistance to these drugs, and over time this accumulates. Eventually, the antibiotics prove to be a futile attempt to eradicate the infection, and the next person to catch this bacteria is forced to seek aid at a hospital with a stronger, broader antibiotic. But it’s too late. The resistant bacteria have spread to the rest of the body and are slowly murdering this individual from the inside because the relevant antibiotics that would otherwise treat this infection are now ineffective against this onslaught . Owing to the abuse of medication, this small, irrelevant and inconsequential infection has now become death, destroyer of worlds. 

If we don’t want this to happen to our friends, if we don’t want this to happen to our family, if we don’t want this to happen to us, then we have to act. The example that I provided is exaggerated, but to a small extent. The danger is real. The danger is coming for us, and the danger is our fault. Antibiotic resistance is a serious issue, and one that we have to be united against to conquer. Yet you may feel the light of salvation soon, for most recently our leaders decided to make a pact to combat this terrifying threat. Last week, the Un General Assembly declared that antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, is a major global threat, and something needs to be done about it. We must support them in this initiative, for it is critical that we conquer AMR and uphold Alexander Flemming’s life saving discovery for the generations to come.