Biomedical Letters

Review article | https://doi.org/10.47262/BL/9.1.20230417

Impact of antimicrobial resistance on health and economy: A comprehensive review

Zain Ul Aabedeen 1, Amna Shakeel 2, Tuba Ehsan 3, Shumaila Ziafat 4, Waris Ali 5*, Zunaira Abid Khan 5*, Muhammad Abrar 5, Azeem Azam 4, Sidra Rao 5, Durr-e-Sameen 6, Sameen Fatima 6

1 Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Minhaj University, Lahore, Pakistan

2 Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government College University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan

3 Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

4 Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

5 Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Okara, Okara, Pakistan

6 Department of Biology, University of Okara, Okara, Pakistan

Abstract

Antibiotics have historically revolutionized the medical science; however the rise of multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria puts their worth at risk. The problem of antibiotic resistance has been attributed to both the excessive use of already available drugs and the absence of newer treatments as a result of stringent regulatory requirements and weakened corporate incentives. Resistant infections often need more comprehensive and costly treatments, resulting in longer hospital admissions, higher healthcare costs, and a larger demand for specialized healthcare resources. The expenses are exacerbated by the need for new antimicrobial drug research and development, which is becoming more complex and expensive as a result of resistance mechanisms. Comprehensive efforts are needed to limit the rate of resistance development and include research into new bacteria, resistance mechanisms, and antimicrobial medications. Multidisciplinary approaches are required in the sectors of agriculture, the environment, and healthcare. Probiotics, antibodies, and vaccines are a few examples of progressive complementary therapies that have shown promising outcomes in research and may one day serve as preventive or supplementary treatments. The purpose of this review article is to give an in-depth review of the influence of antibiotic resistance on both the health of individuals and economic stability.