MRSA to VRE: Management and Prevention

Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent healthcare threat. It kills millions of patients worldwide. Antimicrobial resistance is when the bacteria and fungi are not killed by the medications meant for them. Antimicrobial resistance is not only a threat in healthcare, it is also seen in the field of poultry and agriculture as well. In humans, the bacterial resistance involves MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococci), CRE (carbapenem-resistant enterobacteria), ESBL (extended-spectrum B-lactamase-producing bacteria), drug-resistant pneumococci and mycobacterium, and multi-drug-resistant Pseudomonas and Neisseria gonorrhea. Antimicrobial resistance is rising due to improper prescriptions with inappropriate antibiotics, dose and duration of administration, the agricultural and poultry use of tonnes of antimicrobial agents to get better livestock. Delays or no newer antibiotics in the pipeline are due to a lack of investment, incentives and various administrative approval barriers. Antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance can be managed and prevented by increasing public awareness of the proper use of antibiotics, promoting antibiotic stewardship, rapid identification of microbes to avoid empirical antibiotic administration, using vaccines, detecting and preventing the spread of infections, and utilizing national and international initiatives in the countries.