World AMR Awareness Week (WAAR) 2025: “Let us contribute our bit of share”

My second editorial on the same topic i.e. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in almost a year reflects the significance this topic deserves in the current global scenario. In my Sept–Oct 2024 write-up, titled “The menace of overusage of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance- Are we heading towards the disaster??”[1] I had tried to impress upon the Indian dentists, especially Periodontists regarding their role in the global fight against AMR. AMR is a lethal scenario that happens when the microorganisms, i.e. bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites do not respond to the antimicrobial agents (AMA’s) and the AMA’s become ineffective, making the treatment of infections very difficult or almost impossible. This increases the risk of spread of infections, morbidity and mortality. Active efforts to control the menace of AMR, though still falling short of the expected results are on, almost a decade now. In 2015, World Health Organisation (W.H.O.) member states unanimously approved a “Global Action Plan to tackle AMR” (GAP-AMR). As part of this, on 22nd Oct 2015, W.H.O. launched the “Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System” (GLASS).[2] It serves as a platform for the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data of antimicrobial drug resistance from across the globe. Another significant step by W.H.O. in this regard has been the annual commemoration of World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) from 18 to 24 November. Mandated by the World Health Assembly as W.H.O’s official health campaign, WAAW a global effort aims to increase the awareness and understanding of AMR. This also helps to promote a concerted global action to tackle the emergence and spread of drug-resistant microorganisms. The theme for WAAW 2025 is “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future”. This theme underscores the need to take concrete and bold steps to address the issue of AMR. I, personally feel that we, “the periodontists” who prescribe AMA’s on a regular basis, definitely fall within the scope of the theme for WAAW 2025. Considering this fact the periodontal fraternity of the country needs to play its role actively and conspicuously. There are reports that different combinations of antimicrobial agents commonly prescribed to treat periodontal conditions have resulted in some resistance in microbial strains, causing periodontitis.[3] A U.S study on effects of various antibiotics on Porphyromonas gingivalis over a period of 20 years has reported increased microbial resistance to clindamycin and amoxicillin.[4] In view of such findings I think we as responsible members of the global medical fraternity must take active lead to sensitise the general population, health care professionals and professional organisations regarding the growing global threat of AMR in the forthcoming WAAW week from 18 to 24 November 2025. Remember that AMR is not a future challenge it has already started and is happening now. To effectively tackle the issue of AMR, let a better sense prevail among all the stake holders, with realisation that the phenomenon of AMR is a shared responsibility and not a job of W.H.O., government agencies or professional bodies only.