Increased antimicrobial resistance a worrying threat — Khairy

PUTRAJAYA: Increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a worrying threat around the world, including in Malaysia, as it can cause incurable diseases and increase the risk of morbidity and death, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said the death rate due to stubborn bacterial infection in patients treated in hospitals was double that of patients with common bacterial infection

“In addition, it is estimated 700,000 deaths globally each year are linked to antibiotic resistance issues and if uncontrolled, is expected to increase to 10 million by 2050,” he said in his speech in conjunction with World Antimicrobial Awareness Week held virtually yesterday.

Khairy said the existence of over 100 antibiotics, either bactericidal (to kill bacteria) or bacteriostatic (to stop bacterial growth) had helped especially, to speed up the healing process, but the improper and widespread use of antibiotics has created a new problem of antibiotic resistance.

According to him, AMR occurs when bacteria no longer respond to antibiotics and are ineffective in treating infections.

Khairy said stubborn bacteria could spread through infection from one person to another or through consumption of contaminated food or beverages, exposure to environmental contaminants and eating livestock-based foods containing high antibiotic residues.

“A study on immune response to E. coli conducted by the Health Ministry (MoH) together with various agencies in 2019 found that E. coli bacteria have spread widely among humans, animals and the environment in Malaysia.

“This finding is very worrying and we need to take immediate action,” he said.