The rise and spread of AMR (antimicrobial resistance) due to antibiotic pollution could weaken the power of antibiotics worldwide, including the drugs made at the manufacturing sites that cause the pollution.
AMR happens when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites stop responding to medicines, making people more ill and raising the chance of spreading hard-to-treat infections, sickness, and deaths. The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials drive AMR. Yet, at the same time many people around the world can’t get essential antimicrobial medicines.
Although scientists have reported high levels of antibiotic pollution, governments regulate this problem. Quality control standards don’t address environmental releases. Also, people who buy antibiotics often don’t know how to get rid of unused or expired pills when they finish their treatment or the medicine goes bad.
“When antibiotic factories release drug waste, it can help create new bacteria that resist treatment. These germs can spread worldwide and put our health at risk. Stopping pollution from antibiotic production helps keep these vital medicines working for everyone,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for AMR ad interim.
Around the world, people can’t find information about how making medicines harms the environment. “The guidance gives regulators, buyers, inspectors, and companies themselves an unbiased scientific foundation to add strong antibiotic pollution control to their standards,” said Dr Maria Neira, who heads the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at WHO. “What’s key is that the big emphasis on openness will help buyers, investors and the public make choices that take into account how hard manufacturers are working to control antibiotic pollution.”
Several global organizations have asked for this guidance, including the WHO Executive Board, the G7 health ministers and UNEP. “We need to look at how the environment plays a part in the growth, spread, and transmission of antimicrobial resistance as proof keeps piling up. People agree that environmental action should take Centre stage as a solution. This means we need to prevent and control pollution from city systems, factories, health centers, and food production,” said Jacqueline Alvarez, who heads the Industry and Economy Division at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The guidelines were crafted through teamwork with a wide range of global experts from different fields. These included scholars, regulators, inspectors, and international groups like UNEP, among others.
The guidelines offer targets based on human health to lower the chances of AMR appearing and spreading. They also include goals to tackle risks to water-dwelling creatures caused by all antibiotics meant for humans, animals, or plants. They cover every stage from making active drug ingredients (APIs) and turning them into finished products, including their main packaging.
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