The War in Gaza: A Legacy of Antimicrobial Resistance

How War Fosters Antimicrobial Resistance

The war in Gaza will leave its mark in many ways, long after the recently negotiated ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. One legacy relates to how the chaos of war provides the perfect storm for the rise in antimicrobial resistance.

This is when microbes evolve to withstand the medicines designed to kill them. These microbes turn into superbugs, rendering previously effective treatments ineffective, and previously survivable infections, deadly.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Conflict Zones

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem globally. It not only threatens human health, but also agriculture, food security, and economies.

Managing antimicrobial resistance is complex. It requires approaches including preventing infections in the first place, strategic limits on how antimicrobial agents are used, and robust health-care systems.

In conflict zones, the reverse is starkly evident.

Health-care Systems are Disrupted

Armed conflicts devastate health-care infrastructure. Such conflicts often occur in places with limited resources to start with.

Hospitals and diagnostic laboratories are damaged or destroyed, and supplies are depleted. Health-care workers are killed or displaced.

This makes preventing and controlling infections incredibly difficult.

Vaccination is Disrupted Too

Disrupted vaccination programs can affect the development of antimicrobial resistance in a number of direct and indirect ways.

For instance, in conflict zones, less vaccination against bacterial disease leads to more infections, increasing the need for antibiotics and the risk that antimicrobial resistance develops.

Antibiotics are Overused and Misused

Widespread injuries, infections, and poor hygiene in conflict zones are common. This leads to an over-reliance on antibiotics, especially those acting against the broadest range of bacteria.

Ideally, broad-acting antibiotics would be used sparingly and after diagnostic tests. However, treatment is needed and diagnostic capabilities are compromised. So broad-acting antibiotics are used much more often, further promoting the development of resistance.

Unsanitary Living Conditions

Refugee camps and shelters for displaced populations are often overcrowded and lack access to clean water and proper sanitation.

So infections and resistant microbes are more likely to occur and spread, worsening outbreaks and fostering the evolution and spread of resistant microbes.

Lack of Surveillance and Monitoring

Effective management of antimicrobial resistance depends on accurate diagnostic tests, and robust surveillance systems to track resistance patterns and inform treatment recommendations.

Conflict disrupts these systems, leaving authorities blind to emerging resistance trends. This disruption also delays the implementation of effective countermeasures.

Global Spread of Resistant Pathogens

Conflict generates a large pool of antimicrobial-resistant microbes that may infect or colonise many people, in and beyond the conflict zone.

Movement of people in and out of the conflict zone contributes to this spread across borders.

What Should We Do About It?

Antimicrobial resistance in regions affected by conflict requires urgent action, as well as peace. This includes rebuilding and maintaining health-care systems, improving sanitation, regulating antibiotic use, and ensuring access to clean water and vaccines.

International cooperation and sustained investment are essential to mitigating the devastating impact on those already affected by conflict.

Without this, antimicrobial resistance becomes yet another catastrophic legacy of war, threatening human health and security for generations to come.

Conclusion

The war in Gaza has left a lasting impact on the region, and antimicrobial resistance is one of the most significant consequences. It is crucial that we take immediate action to address this issue, not only to protect the health of those affected by the conflict but also to prevent the spread of resistant microbes globally.

FAQs

Q: What is antimicrobial resistance?

A: Antimicrobial resistance is when microbes evolve to withstand the medicines designed to kill them, rendering previously effective treatments ineffective.

Q: How does war contribute to antimicrobial resistance?

A: War disrupts health-care systems, vaccination programs, and sanitation infrastructure, leading to an over-reliance on antibiotics and the development of resistant microbes.

Q: What can be done to mitigate the impact of antimicrobial resistance?

A: Rebuilding and maintaining health-care systems, improving sanitation, regulating antibiotic use, and ensuring access to clean water and vaccines are essential steps to mitigate the impact of antimicrobial resistance.