Antimicrobial Resistance: A Rising Global Threat to Public Health

The discovery of penicillin marked a revolutionary step in modern medicine, leading to the development of various chemotherapeutic agents that transformed the treatment of life-threatening diseases. However, the accelerating emergence of antimicrobial resistance poses a formidable global threat to public health, fueled by the indiscriminate use of antibiotics across various fields such as the health sector, agriculture, vet medication, etc. This review outlines the possible mechanism of resistance development in various pathogens such as efflux pumps, biofilm formation, downregulation of receptors, and mutation under species selection pressure. It addresses the role of the environment, that is often overlooked in the circulation of antibiotic remnants through animal waste, soil, the food chain, and the gene exchange process. The One Health framework integrates health with multidisciplinary surveillance and intervention strategies for an effective check on the phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance. Various current strategies have been considered, taking from antimicrobial stewardship to public awareness for addressing the current problem. There are various alternatives to conventional antibiotics discussed that can potentially minimise their usage and mitigate reliance on antimicrobial agents. This article provides a comprehensive overview to address the current issue with possible strategies and support future research to tackle AMR.