Antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance happens when microbes like bacteria, viruses and fungi change. They stop responding as well to medicines that are used to treat infections. This means some infections can become harder to treat in people and animals.

Antimicrobials are critical medicines which can be needed for treating infections. (E.g. antibiotics to treat some bacterial infections.) Often people and animals will get better without needing antimicrobials. To help reduce the risk of resistance developing, you should only use antimicrobials:

• when they are needed, and 
• following advice from health or veterinary professionals

AMR is an important public health issue because: 

• it can make common infections more difficult to treat
• infections may: 
  • last longer
  • require additional care 
• effective treatment may require different medicines, with more severe side effects
• it can affect people, animals and the wider environment

The “One Health” approach recognises the connection between:

• human health
• animal health, and 
• the environment

Using antimicrobials wisely helps to protect them, so they work when we need them.

For further information please see the web pages below:

• Arwain DGC (on mentera.cymru) 
• World Organisation for Animal Health: antimicrobial resistance
• World Health Organisation: antimicrobial resistance