THE GLOBAL CRISIS OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE: PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTS AND CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE OF ANTIBIOTICS

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a serious global challenge, compromising the effectiveness of treatments against bacterial infections. Since the first cases of penicillin resistance, the inappropriate use of antimicrobials and the scarcity of new drugs have favored the increase of multidrug-resistant microorganisms. In Brazil, AMR is associated with thousands of deaths annually, highlighting the urgency of strategies to contain its advance and ensure effective treatments. This article aims to explore the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance, analyzing its impacts on public health and the challenges faced to secure the future of antibiotics. This is a comprehensive integrative literature review, conducted in 2025, based on consultations with the LILACS, MEDLINE, and PubMed databases. Projections indicate that, by 2050, AMR could cause up to 10 million deaths annually, with a growing impact on the elderly, aggravated by the inadequate use of antimicrobials, self-medication, and structural factors such as poor sanitation. AMR hinders the treatment of diseases such as multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and gonorrhea, while hospital environments favor the emergence of nutritious microorganisms. Innovative strategies such as phage therapy, gene editing, and artificial intelligence add to educational campaigns and management programs to mitigate this challenge. The "One Health" approach, led by the WHO, reinforces integrated actions in human, animal and environmental health, highlighting the need for robust public policies, epidemiological surveillance and sustainable investments to control the spread of AMR and reduce its impacts. It is concluded that the mechanisms of AMR and the spread of resistant pathogens compromise treatments, increase costs, and aggravate morbidity and mortality, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In this context, health education, public policies for the rational use of antimicrobials, epidemiological surveillance, and innovative technologies are essential to mitigate the impacts of AMR. Health professionals play a strategic role in raising awareness and prevention, contributing to safer and more effective practices in facing this global problem.