Antimicrobial Resistance

(AMR) is the ability of microbes to grow in the presence of substances specifically designed to kill them.

AMR is the result of microbes changing in ways that reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of drugs, chemicals, or other agents to cure or prevent infections they cause. AMR is a natural phenomenon, but human actions may promote avoidable emergence and spread of AMR. These actions include inappropriate use of antimicrobials in health care and in raising crops and animals, poor sanitary practices and conditions, inappropriate food handling (e.g., food not properly stored), disposal of wastes containing antimicrobials, and weak infection prevention and control practices in health care facilities.