Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a huge threat to Africa’s and, by extension, the world’s health care systems and should be addressed with haste. This according to Prof Carlos Bezuidenhout, director of the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, Microbiology (METSI) at the North-West University’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.
AMR refers to the resistance that microbes develop to certain pharmaceutical drugs.
Prof Bezuidenhout made this warning at the South Africa Sweden University Forum (SASUF) that is being held at the University of the Western Cape. During his presentation titled Mitigating the spread of antibiotic resistance and pathogens in the environment, he stated that by 2050, more than 10 million people will die annually from AMR, the bulk of which will be in Africa and then Asia.
“If we allow AMR to proliferate, it will have a huge impact on the continent’s health care systems as microbes can become pathogens. Just consider the economic impact and where we are currently. Only the very rich will be able to afford health care.”
One of the driving forces behind this escalating problem is anthropogenic – or human caused – pollution as this influences microbiome dynamics, especially wastewater which is a deadly culprit. Simply put, waste systems weren’t designed for antimicrobial removal. A reduction in AMR though can be accomplished by protecting and promoting good quality drinking water and the usage of decent sanitation measures such as hand hygiene.
Prof Bezuidenhout’s presentation was supplemented by that of his Swedish colleagues of whom Prof Stefan Bertilsson from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) was first. One of Prof Bertilsson’s focus areas is understanding the ecology of pathogens, and in his presentation titled An ecological view on water-borne pathogens (and antimicrobial resistance) he explained that AMR is an accelerating global problem. He said that although there is an uneven occurrence thereof if a pathogen emerges – with Africa, South East Asia and parts of South America particularly under threat – it is going to spread as was the case with Covid-19.
“They adapt due to anthropogenic influence,” said Prof Bertilsson.
Prof Anna Székely, also from (SLU), then addressed the importance of environmental surveillance of pathogens for effective public health responses and risk management, followed by Natuschka Lee from Umeå University in Sweden who spoke about the challenge of identifying pathogens in biofilms.
All the experts agree that collaboration is key in protecting the worlds freshwater resources.
Natuschka Lee, Prof Stefan Bertilsson, Prof Carlos Bezuidenhout and Prof Anna Székely.
