Antimicrobial-Resistant Gonorrhea - DTE - 17/01/23

Context:
Recently, a strand of antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhea outbreak has hit Kenya. Researchers have raised alarm, warning this infection is asymptomatic in some cases and can cause significant health challenges, including permanent damage to their reproductive systems.
Relevance:
GS3
About:
Gonorrhea: Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is the second-most common disease to be sexually transmitted across the world after chlamydia.

->Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of microorganisms (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) to resist the effects of antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics).
->Causes:
a. Poor infection control and inadequate sanitation and hygiene.
b. Overuse of antibiotics and repeated use of poor-quality drugs.
c. Genetic mutations of the bacteria.
d. Lack of investment in research and development of new antimicrobial drugs.
->Impacts:
-AMR increases the risk of infections spreading and becoming harder to treat, leading to prolonged illness, disability and death.
-It also increases healthcare costs and threatens the sustainability of healthcare systems.

->Recognition in India:
-The National Health Policy 2017 highlights the problem of antimicrobial resistance and calls for effective action to address it.
-The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) identified AMR as one of the top 10 priorities for the ministry’s collaborative work with the World Health Organization (WHO).

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