Bridging the Gap: Comparative Review of Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Systems in Asia-Pacific and Africa.

Title: Bridging the Gap: Comparative Review of Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Systems in Asia-Pacific and Africa.

Author: Emmanuel Michael

Abstract:

With the significant threat to global public health posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with consequences for both animal and human populations. This paper relates a comparative review of AMR systems of surveillance between Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies and African countries. Portraying existing research findings and publications, we evaluate the AMR surveillance status, funding, awareness, and control approaches in both regions. The highlights of this analysis are on the disparities in surveillance infrastructure, policy implementation and resources, between high-income economies and low- to middle-income countries, highlighting the urgent need for collective efforts to globally address AMR crisis.

Introduction:

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has a pressing concern on global health, threatening the antimicrobial agent’s efficacy and compromising the infectious diseases treatment [1]. The AMR escalation poses significant challenges to healthcare systems universally, with mortality, morbidity implications, and costs of healthcare. As the global grapples with the AMR escalating threat, its consequences extend beyond clinical settings, pervading through agricultural practices, animal populations, and environmental ecosystems. [2]. Surveillance systems perform a vital role in monitoring the AMR spread and prevalence, guiding policy decisions, and informing intervention approaches. In contradiction of this backdrop, the emergence of surveillance systems as essential tools in the ongoing AMR battle, provision of vital insights into the prevalence and spread of resistant pathogens. By shaping intervention strategies and informing policy decisions, these surveillance mechanisms play an essential role in public health safeguarding on a global scale [3]. However, the capacity and efficacy of AMR surveillance differ widely between regions, reflecting differences in infrastructure, resources, and governance frameworks [4].

The Urgency of Comparative Review:

This paper undertakes an AMR surveillance systems comparative review in two varied regions: the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies and the nations of Africa. By comparing the surveillance efforts status quo in these separate contexts, we aim to irradiate both the strides made and the hurdles yet to be overcome in the mission to effectively combat AMR.

The Imperative of Collective Action:

By irradiating on these divergent certainties, this review underlines the importance of collective action in addressing the crisis of AMR. As disparities persevere amid high-income economies and their low- to middle-income counterparts, the necessity for determined efforts to foster equitable access and bridge the gap to surveillance resources turn out to be ever more crucial. Only through knowledge exchange and collaborative initiatives can we have confidence to forge a path to a future where less of a threat is posed by AMR to global health security.

AMR Surveillance in Asia-Pacific:

In the region of Asia-Pacific, high-income economies such as Singapore, Japan, and Australia have significantly made investments in AMR surveillance capacity building and infrastructure [5]. These countries have comprehensively established surveillance systems that monitor human health, animal production AMR, and the utilizing advanced molecular practices, environment and data analytics [6].

Nevertheless, low- to middle-income economies within the region significantly face challenges in the implementation of AMR surveillance effectively due to inadequate laboratory infrastructure, limited resources, and disjointed governance structures [7].

AMR Surveillance in Africa:

In the same way, Africa AMR surveillance is significantly characterized by disparities in capacity and resources between countries [8]. While countries with high-income like South Africa have robustly established surveillance networks and stewardship of antimicrobial programs, several low- to middle-income countries have deficiency in their infrastructure and resources to conduct AMR systematic monitoring [9]. Inadequate funding, limited laboratory capacity, and competing health priorities significantly pose challenges to Africa’s AMR surveillance, impeding the generation of reliable data for making evidence-based decisions [10].

Disparities and Challenges:

A comparative investigation of AMR surveillance between Asia-Pacific and Africa discloses stark differences in infrastructure, resources, and implementation of policies [11]. In both regions, high-income economies have significantly made progress in comprehensive surveillance systems establishment and implementation of evidence-based interventions to address AMR [12]. However, low- to middle-income countries significantly continue to face challenges in resource-constrained sceneries, with inadequate funding, insufficient laboratory infrastructure, and feeble governance structures [13]. These differences exacerbate the AMR burden in low-resource settings, contributive to mortality, morbidity increase, and costs of healthcare [14].

Opportunities for Collaboration:

Notwithstanding the challenges, there are opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration between Asia-Pacific and Africa to strengthen surveillance of AMR and control efforts [15]. Multilateral initiatives and international organizations, such as the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS) and World Health Organization (WHO), play a critical role in facilitating capacity building and collaboration [16]. By leveraging existing networks and partnerships, countries in both regions can utilize shared resources, best practices and expertise to enhance efforts of their AMR surveillance [17].

Interdisciplinary Approaches:

Interdisciplinary collaboration is required to address AMR crisis across human health, animal health, environmental science, agriculture, and policy domains [18]. In both regions, it is necessary to foster collaboration between research institutions, government agencies, healthcare providers, veterinary professionals, and community stakeholders towards developing holistic approaches to surveillance and control of AMR [19]. Integrated One Health methods that consider the interconnection of environmental health, human, animal are vital for mitigating the antimicrobial resistance spread [20].

Infrastructure Development and Capacity Building:

Infrastructure development and capacity building are pillars essential for strengthening surveillance of AMR in resource-limited settings [21]. In the Asia-Pacific region, high-income economies have capitalized in laboratory infrastructure, training programs, and technology transfer initiatives towards enhancing surveillance capabilities [22]. Likewise, initiatives such as the Fleming Fund and Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS) have provided funding and technical support to low- and middle-income countries in Africa for laboratory capacity improvement and data management systems [23].

Regulatory Frameworks and Policy:

Regulatory frameworks and robust policy are important for guiding AMR implementing evidence-based interventions and surveillance efforts [24]. While high-income economies in both regions have established regulatory mechanisms and national action plans for AMR control, many low- to middle-income countries are deficient of regulatory frameworks and comprehensive policies [25]. Regulatory enforcement and strengthening governance structures is critical for responsible promotion of antimicrobial practice, fostering antimicrobial stewardship initiatives and antimicrobial sales regulation [26].

Education and Public Awareness:

Education and Public awareness campaigns are important for the promotion of responsible antimicrobial use, raising awareness about the AMR consequences, and fostering behavior change among farmers, healthcare providers, and the general public [27]. Although high-income economies every so often have well-established educational initiatives and public awareness programs, low- to middle-income countries face challenges in information dissemination and community engagement [28]. Targeted strategies of communication, educational campaigns and community outreach programs, tailored to local settings are desired to address misconceptions and knowledge gaps about AMR [29].

Future Directions:

Moving forward, there is necessity towards sustenance investment, innovation and collaboration, to address the multifaceted challenges posed by AMR in both regions of Asia-Pacific and African [30]. Areas of priority for future action include laboratory capacity enhancement, network surveillance strengthening antimicrobial stewardship promotion, and fostering collaborations of interdisciplinary research [31]. Furthermore, addressing the efforts of AMR should be incorporated into the initiatives of broader health systems strengthening, global health security frameworks and sustainable development agendas [32].

Conclusion:

In conclusion, addressing the antimicrobial resistance global threat requires collaboration at the local, regional, and international levels as well as coordinated action. Although substantial progress has been made in control efforts in high-income economies and AMR surveillance, much leftover work is to be done, predominantly in low- to middle-income countries in both the regions of Asia-Pacific and African. Through sharing best practices, leveraging existing partnerships, and prioritizing investments in building capacity and infrastructure development, countries can reinforce their resilience to AMR and protect the health and well-being of upcoming generations [33].

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