New Delhi, June 12: A new international study has suggested that socioeconomic disparities, poor living conditions, overcrowding, and inadequate sanitation may be stronger predictors of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) than antibiotic consumption alone.
Researchers from King’s College London and collaborating institutions found that tackling AMR requires broader public health measures beyond reducing antibiotic use. The study recommends governments focus on improving nutrition, sanitation, housing conditions, and healthcare equity to effectively curb the growing threat.
AMR occurs when bacteria and other microbes evolve resistance to medicines designed to eliminate them, making infections harder to treat. According to estimates published in The Lancet in 2025, antimicrobial resistance could claim more than 39 million lives globally over the next 25 years.
The research, published in Cell Genomics, analyzed over 45,000 bacterial genomes from 127 countries, covering 16 high-priority pathogens identified by the World Health Organization (WHO), including Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, and Escherichia coli.
Scientists examined more than 1,000 environmental, health, and socioeconomic indicators—including poverty levels, climate factors, healthcare access, and living conditions—to identify drivers of future resistance trends.
The study identified 210 antimicrobial resistance traits likely to expand globally by 2050. While mortality rates showed the strongest overall correlation, socioeconomic inequality emerged as the most significant factor linked to the most critical resistance threats.
Lead researcher Professor Tania Dottorini said the findings provide a roadmap for targeted interventions and highlight the need for structural reforms alongside responsible antibiotic stewardship.
The researchers concluded that addressing inequality, improving sanitation, and strengthening public health systems will be essential in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance.
