Is Antimicrobial Resistance a Slowly Emerging Disaster?

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Health Policy

Background:

• The escalating crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant global health threat.
• Projections indicate a potential end to the antibiotic era, leading to a 'post-antibiotic' era.
• A comprehensive and effective policy response to AMR is critically needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a conceptual and policy framework for addressing antimicrobial resistance.
• To frame the AMR problem as a slowly emerging disaster.
• To analyze the potential benefits and challenges of this disaster framing.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of the antimicrobial resistance problem.
• Policy perspective on framing the crisis.
• Examination of disaster framing as a strategy.

Main Results:

• Framing antimicrobial resistance as a slowly emerging disaster offers a novel perspective.
• This framing highlights the gradual yet severe nature of the threat.
• Potential benefits and difficulties of this approach are identified.

Conclusions:

• A disaster-framing approach may enhance public and policy engagement with antimicrobial resistance.
• Understanding AMR as a slow-moving disaster can inform more effective and proactive policy interventions.
• Further exploration of conceptual and policy implications is warranted.