With the theme “Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach” unfurled the beginning of the 18^th IC InnovatorClub meeting held on May 25,2024.

The event brought together leading experts, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to discuss innovative solutions to one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to global health, demanding a concerted effort across various sectors to combat its spread effectively.

Introduction and setting the tone

In his opening remarks, Mr. Sachin Gaur set  the tone of urgency and immediate collaboration as he addressed the critical issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Drawing from personal experience and insights gained from international forums, he underscored the global nature of the problem and emphasised on the need for proactive strategies in combating AMR. Mr.Gaur acknowledged the growing awareness surrounding AMR but calls for a shift from reactionary approaches to more comprehensive and coordinated efforts. 

Keynote Address by Ms. Jasmine Kaur

In her keynote address, Jasmine Kaur, a researcher at the division of biomedical informatics at ICMR and a Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Computational Biology at IIIT Delhi, delves into the challenges of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and suggested innovative solutions through a multidisciplinary lens. She elucidated the essence of AMR, highlighting its detrimental impact on global health by rendering previously effective medications ineffective. Kaur emphasised the urgent need for proactive strategies in combating AMR, citing alarming statistics of associated deaths in 2019. She identified the key challenges hindering effective AMR management, such as fragmented datasets, lack of accessible technical innovations, and implementation gaps. Providing insights into India’s AMR surveillance landscape. Ms.Kaur discussed various national-level surveillance systems and enlightened the importance of standardising data collection and enhancing data sharing mechanisms. She advocated for the development of an ideal AMR surveillance system that is interoperable, standardised, and capable of providing nationwide projections. Ms.Kaur introduced tools developed by ICMR for data collection and highlights their significance in guiding antimicrobial use policies. Drawing from her recent study published in Lancet Southeast Asia, she showcased the utility of AI-based insights in analysing AMR trends and identifying indicator antibiotics.She concluded by stressing the importance of collaborative efforts among stakeholders in combating AMR and called for greater implementation and awareness to make substantial progress in this global health challenge.

Keynote Address by Advocate Rabin Majumdar

In the keynote address, Advocate Rabin Majumdar, an advocate at the Supreme Court of India focused on AMR and environmental law, highlights the legal dimensions of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its implications for public health and the environment. He emphasised on the need for global cooperation in addressing AMR and stressed the importance of interstate and international coordination. Majumdar discussed India’s efforts in mapping the AMR research landscape and called for better coordination between various governmental departments. He shared his insights on the environmental impact of pharmaceutical manufacturing and augmented for smart regulation of antibiotic use to mitigate AMR. He further highlighted the role of the National Green Tribunal in addressing AMR-related environmental issues and underscores the importance of regulatory mechanisms in preventing contamination. Despite existing policies, he acknowledged implementation of challenges and stressed the need for strong legal commitment and public-private partnerships. Majumdar concluded by emphasising the importance of comprehensive and coordinated efforts in involving all stakeholders to effectively combat AMR on a global scale.

Panel Discussion

The panel discussion, moderated by Adv. Rabin Majumder, brought together esteemed experts to explore various facets of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and proposed solutions to combat this global health challenge. Dr. Ranga Reddy Burri, President of the Infection Control Academy of India (IFCAI), emphasised the One Health approach to AMR, stressing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. Dr. Sonal Saxena, Director Professor & Head, Microbiology Department , Maulana Azad Medical College, shed light on the challenges of AMR in hospital settings, particularly focusing on hospital-acquired infections and the importance of infection control practices. Dr. Vikash Ranjan,Manager Medical Affairs,BioMérieux, provided insights from the industry perspective, highlighting the crucial role of diagnostics in managing AMR, including the need for rapid and accurate tests to guide targeted therapy and reduce antibiotic misuse.

Throughout the discussion, several key themes emerged. Collaboration across disciplines and sectors was highlighted as essential for developing comprehensive strategies to combat AMR effectively. The importance of early diagnosis, accessible diagnostic tools, and technological advancements in diagnostics were underscored as crucial elements in managing AMR in healthcare settings. Additionally, the panellists emphasised the significance of education and public awareness in addressing AMR, advocating for curriculum development, public awareness campaigns, and community engagement initiatives to promote responsible antibiotic use.

In conclusion, the panel discussion underscored the urgent need for a holistic and coordinated approach to address AMR, involving collaboration between academia, industry, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the public. By leveraging the strengths of each sector and implementing evidence-based strategies, there is hope for effectively managing and controlling AMR to safeguard public health and preserve antibiotic effectiveness for future generations.

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In the past, environmental, animal, and human health have all been studied and managed separately. The rise of zoonotic diseases like COVID-19, which started in animals and then spread to humans, emphasised the need for a more comprehensive strategy. Given that diseases can easily cross species borders and have broad effects, One Health aims to dissolve the silos that have kept various fields apart.

Numerous interconnected health issues exist in the areas of human, animal, and environmental health. Instances of problems that necessitate a complete, cross-sectoral approach include environmental risks, antibiotic resistance, and zoonotic diseases. One Health acknowledges the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health through a holistic approach to understanding and addressing health challenges. It symbolises the notion that all life on Earth is interdependent and that overcoming health concerns necessitates cooperation across disciplines, industries, and countries.

One Health is crucial, and the COVID-19 epidemic serves as a sharp reminder of that. This global emergency highlights the necessity of interdisciplinary cooperation between epidemiologists, veterinarians, ecologists, and public health professionals to identify and reduce emerging hazards. As a result, experts from a number of fields, including virology, epidemiology, veterinary medicine, and environmental science, took part in the COVID-19 project, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary research and collaboration. One Health intends to forecast and stop such outbreaks by researching how people, animals, and the environment interact. One Health, however, goes beyond infectious diseases to address broader environmental issues like pollution, deforestation, and climate change that have a significant influence on health. 

Antibiotic resistance, which is a growing danger to both human and animal health, is also addressed through the One Health approach

Controlling rabies is a prime example of how the One Health approach can be used to effectively prevent and manage zoonotic diseases, highlighting the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health. Mass vaccination efforts for domestic dogs, carried out in the area of animal health, are a crucial component of rabies control. Dogs, a frequent reservoir of the virus, can be vaccinated to greatly lower the risk of transmission to people. For persons who have been bitten by possibly rabid animals, efficient post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is crucial. Early introduction to PEP can halt the progression of the disease. Here, the fight against rabies depends heavily on the human health sector. One Health emphasises the importance of surveillance in spotting and controlling illness outbreaks.

It is essential to keep track of such cases in both humans and animals in order to enable early diagnosis and intervention. Public awareness campaigns are essential to educate communities about rabies transmission, prevention, and the importance of vaccinating pets. In order for these efforts to be successful, veterinary services and health authorities must work together. New vaccines, diagnostic tools, and prevention strategies are always being researched and therefore collaboration is necessary between researchers from various fields. Rabies is a global issue and therefore organisations like the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) play a significant role in coordinating efforts and providing guidelines for rabies control.

Ecosystem health and the One Health philosophy are inextricably linked because healthy ecosystems are essential for supporting life and health. For instance, a number of recently emerging infectious diseases, including Ebola and SARS have been linked to bats. One health initiative aims to protect bat populations in addition to monitoring and researching the diseases that bats spread.  By examining bat populations, their behaviours, and their interactions with their surroundings, One Health is trying to understand how viruses are transmitted from bats to other animals, including humans.

The protection of both human and environmental health can be achieved by using this knowledge to aid in the early detection and prevention of possible outbreaks. One Health is aware of this importance of maintaining ecological diversity and integrity and therefore it seeks to safeguard and improve the wellbeing of all earth’s inhabitants by addressing environmental issues and advocating for sustainable lifestyles.

We can address the underlying causes of many health concerns, from newly emerging infectious diseases to environmental degradation, by realising how closely intertwined the health of people, animals, and the environment is

Antibiotic resistance, which is a growing danger to both human and animal health, is also addressed through the One Health approach. To fight the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, One Health promotes the prudent use of antibiotics in both human and animal agriculture. Antibiotics are used to treat a variety of zoonotic infections, or ailments that are spread from animals to people. The rise of diseases that are resistant to antibiotics in animals has the potential to spread to people, complicating treatment. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can grow in the environment as a result of the release of antibiotics into the environment, which frequently occurs through agricultural runoff or the dumping of pharmaceutical waste.

When animals or people come into contact with contaminated water or soil, these resistant bacteria can harm both of them. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are carried by animals in the food production chain that have had antibiotic treatment could get into the food supply for humans and perhaps cause infections that are difficult to treat. One Health strategies entail teamwork to track, monitor, and conduct research on antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in both human and animal populations. This provides a deeper comprehension of the problem and the creation of plans to reduce antibiotic resistance.

To combat antibiotic resistance and maintain the effectiveness of antibiotics for both human and animal health, healthcare professionals, veterinarians, researchers, legislators, and the general public must collaborate. A better, more sustainable future for all earth’s inhabitants is what the One Health concept promises. We can address the underlying causes of many health concerns, from newly emerging infectious diseases to environmental degradation, by realising how closely intertwined the health of people, animals, and the environment. Therefore, reminding us that there are innumerable other species who also share this world and its resources, it inspires us to cooperate across boundaries, fields of study, and beliefs. 

Adopting the One Health paradigm is not simply a choice; it is necessary as we continue to face challenges to global health, such as pandemics and climate change. It exhorts us to acknowledge how interconnected the web of life is and how our planet’s and all of its inhabitants’ wellbeing are crucial to our collective well-being. One Health is not merely a concept; it is a call to action for a healthier, more harmonious world.

This article discusses the One Health approach, which is a comprehensive strategy to address the health challenges of human, animal, and environmental health. It highlights the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation and the need for a complete, cross-sectoral approach. It also discusses the importance of addressing broader environmental issues that are directly linked to health.

“Composed by: Dr. Riviarynthia Kharkongor is a One Health research fellow and PhD scholar working on zoonotic and vector borne diseases. Besides practicing dentistry, she has been closely working in the field of social medicine and community health.”

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