Antimicrobial Resistance Exchange Between Humans and Animals: Why We Need to Know More

Humanity is in the grip of another pandemic beyond coronavirus disease (COVID). Although it is not spreading as rapidly as the viral pandemic, it is insidious and probably presents a greater threat in the long run. Through the large-scale use of antibiotics,we have driven the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)in bacteria, and these resistant bacteria are increasing in number and prevalence, threatening our ability to treat common infections and reducing our opportunities to use other life-saving treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery. A recent study showed that bacterial AMR was associated with nearly 5 million deaths in2019, with about 1.3 million being directly attributable to resistance [1]. These numbers are likely to increase.