GLOBAL HEALTH INSIGHTS

Home › AMR › Infectious Diseases › Living in the era of Superbugs: Curse and Remedy

Living in the era of Superbugs: Curse and Remedy

Muhammad Asaduzzaman December 10, 2017     No Comment    

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security and development for which the environment is recognised as an important actor. It is estimated that the annual AMR attributed death toll will reach 10 million by 2050. Poultry is a key driver of AMR in its transmission between the outdoor environment and humans through faecal shedding of resistant bacteria.

Antibiotic susceptibility test of a superbug showing resistance to all last resorts of antibiotics.

The rapid expansion of commercial poultry farming in peri-urban areas creates risk due to the unregulated use of antibiotics in feed and disposal of  faecal waste and run-off water. Strict biosecurity practices are absent, especially in developing countries. Regulation, aimed at the poultry farm industry, must be implemented and enforced to decrease the growing problem of AMR.

 

 

A typical small scale commercial poultry farm in rural Bangladesh.

Poultry Farms: One of the gateways

 

The rapid expansion of commercial poultry farming in peri-urban areas creates risk due to the unregulated use of antibiotics in feed/drinking water, and the absence of any regulation of the treatment of waste disposal. Faecal waste produced in commercial farms and urban markets is mostly disposed into the environment by ‘hosing down’, and residue water is able to contaminate the surrounding area.  Anthropogenic activities such as agriculture, antibiotic residues and wastewater disposal increase the horizontal transfer of resistant genes.

 

 

 

Antimicrobial use (AMU) in poultry farm: Where law is silent

The problem is overwhelming in scale-  poultry are the most common domestic animal. 57% of poultry owners reported using over-the-counter antibiotics for poultry in the last six months; 50% of households shared their sleeping area with poultry and 61% of households used poultry faeces as fertilizer.

(left) Same drug used for all species. (right) Local drug used for all poultry.

Drug container with no label mostly used in rural backyard/farms in Bangladesh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use of the same drug in all species, coupled with the fact that drugs have no labels specifying the ingredients are very common especially in rural areas. Regulations must be developed and enforced to ensure the prudent use of antibiotics in farm animals and correct disposal of run-off water.

 

Slaughtering practice with disposal of offals in open space.

 

Farm Biosecurity: Small Investment, Greater Reward

 

Farm biosecurity plays a vital role in disease epidemiology  and antibiotic resistance. Restricted access and proper waste disposal are the most vulnerable components in  farm biosecurity, often very poorly maintained or absent in the majority of  small and medium scale farms in developing countries. Contamination of drinking water is also common in rural areas of Bangladesh. 59% of tube well water samples show a concentration of E. coli indicating faecal contamination.

 

 

 

Environmental toll for inadequate biosecurity

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a natural evolution in response to antimicrobial exposure.

A poultry farm adjacent to paddy field with no waste disposal system in rural Bangladesh.

Exposure of the backyard poultry to the farm waste which is directly disposed in paddy field.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The environment in most of the LMICs is ideal for the rapid spread of AMR. such as high density populations; lack of clean drinking water and poor sanitation infrastructure, dangerously coupled with the availability of inexpensive antimicrobials from over the counter suppliers.

Use of cow dung and poultry pens as fuel in rural Bangladesh.

Use of livestock generated waste for mopping yard: way of spreading resistant bacteria.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inadequate regulation of the release of antimicrobials into the environment through production and manufacturing processes further contaminates the environment opening pathways for the development and spread of resistance in the environment.

Integrated commercial poultry raising with aquaculture in rural setting

 

Ducks and Fish are the victims of faulty biosecurity: Photo from the same river

Animals and humans are well connected from ancient times; but precautions must be taken to reduce AMR.

AMR: A natural evolutionary process and control remains here

The process of antimicrobial resistance is not limited to a single factor, instead resistance is a result of interconnected diverse mechanisms all contributing to the rise in AMR. Therefore, multidisciplinary and One Health approaches need to be implemented. The threat can be combated through a centrally managed strategy encouraging increased awareness and action to decrease contamination through better drug control and better management of waste.

One health & planetary health are the key to success. The universal weapon to combat AMR is strong farm biosecurity and public awareness.

 

 

 

Mohammad Aminul Islam PhD, Associate Scientist, LSSD, icddr,b
Member, WHO Advisory Group on Integrated Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (AGISAR)

 

 

 

Muhammad Asaduzzaman, MBBS MPH MPhil, Research Investigator, LSSD, icddr,b
One Health Fellow for South Asia, Massey University, GHES Fogarty Postdoc Fellow, UC Berkeley

 

AMR Infectious Diseases

 Previous Post

World AIDS Day 2017: icddr,b initiatives in response to HIV prevention in Bangladesh

― December 1, 2017

Next Post 

DNA-based diagnosis can help overcome barriers to kala-azar elimination

― January 4, 2018

Author: Muhammad Asaduzzaman

Related Articles

Ornob Alam ― April 20, 2023 | No Comment

Evolving marriage dynamics in rural Bangladesh

Over the last four decades, Bangladesh has gone through massive liberalization and commercialization of traditional agriculture and experienced increasing market

icddr,b communications ― August 21, 2022 | No Comment

A letter from a dreamer

icddr,b communications ― May 28, 2022 | No Comment

When there is a will, there is a way

Farasha Bashir ― July 4, 2021 | No Comment

Better Health District Model: stakeholder engagement for strengthening the 24/7 EmONC services

Farasha Bashir ― June 3, 2021 | No Comment

Distribution of Labour Room Management Protocol in Healthcare Facilities

Farasha Bashir ― December 5, 2020 | No Comment

Capacity Development Workshop of Health Professional on Data Analysis and Thesis Writing

Farasha Bashir ― October 5, 2020 | No Comment

Logistics distribution at OGSB Maternity Hospital for strengthening Infection Prevention and Control measures

Farasha Bashir ― September 23, 2020 | No Comment

Online workshop with newborn experts for Newborn Signal Functions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

About Global Health Insights

Global Health Insights is an icddr,b produced and curated blog that brings to light the motivation behind the science. All opinions expressed in these articles belong to the authors and are not endorsed by icddr,b.

About icddr,b

icddr,b is a Bangladesh-based international health research institute that strives to solve key public health problems through high quality scientific research and innovation. Policy makers and practitioners utilise our evidence and expertise to improve health outcomes and prevent premature death and disability worldwide. Established more than 50 years ago, we continue to provide life-saving services to the people of Bangladesh, and to nurture the next generation of global health leaders.

Recent Posts

  • Evolving marriage dynamics in rural Bangladesh
  • A letter from a dreamer
  • When there is a will, there is a way
  • Better Health District Model: stakeholder engagement for strengthening the 24/7 EmONC services
  • Distribution of Labour Room Management Protocol in Healthcare Facilities

Subscribe

Author List

  • admin (2)
  • Aminul Islam (1)
  • Dr. K. Zaman (1)
  • Farasha Bashir (25)
  • icddr,b communications (20)
  • Liza Talukder (1)
  • M Nazim Uddin (1)
  • Monjur Ahmed (5)
  • Muhammad Asaduzzaman (2)
  • Ornob Alam (1)
  • Shafiul Khan (5)
  • Sharful Islam Khan (1)
  • Tahmeed Ahmed (1)
  • Zain Ali (11)
Copyright © 2023 icddr,b. All Rights Reserved.