{"id":11096,"date":"2025-05-03T16:41:37","date_gmt":"2025-05-03T13:41:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/?p=11096"},"modified":"2025-05-03T16:41:37","modified_gmt":"2025-05-03T13:41:37","slug":"climate-change-boosts-drug-resistance-in-developing-nations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/climate-change-boosts-drug-resistance-in-developing-nations","title":{"rendered":"Climate change boosts drug resistance in developing Nations"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-node=\"5c7e13a01a745\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"fl-icon-text-5c7e13a01a745\">\n<h3>Speed read<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-node=\"5c9087f385b6b\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>Resistance to antimicrobial drugs is rising with climate change, hitting poorest<\/li>\n<li>Increase in lower-income countries could be as high as 4.1 per cent by 2050<\/li>\n<li>Climate must be central to policies to address antimicrobial resistance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[NAIROBI] It is well known that poorer countries bear the biggest burden of resistance to antimicrobial drugs and that these countries are also most\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scidev.net\/global\/governance\/vulnerability\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">vulnerable<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scidev.net\/global\/environment\/climate-change\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">climate change<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But little\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scidev.net\/global\/enterprise\/rd\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">research<\/a>\u00a0has been done into the link between these two phenomena.<\/p>\n<p>Now new analysis by Chinese researchers projects the scale of the burden of antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, in low- and middle-income countries under current climate change trajectories, if\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scidev.net\/global\/governance\/sdgs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sustainable development<\/a>\u00a0strategies are not urgently pursued.<\/p>\n<p>It found that sustainable development efforts \u2014 such as lowering out-of-pocket\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scidev.net\/global\/health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">health<\/a>\u00a0expenses, expanding immunisation coverage, increasing health investments and ensuring universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene services \u2014 were more effective in tackling resistance than simply reducing antibiotic use.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41591-025-03629-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">study<\/a>, published in the journal\u00a0<em>Nature Medicine<\/em>, projected that AMR \u2014 where disease-causing bacteria and viruses no longer respond to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scidev.net\/global\/health\/medicine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">medicines<\/a>\u00a0designed to treat them \u2014 could increase by up to 2.4 per cent globally by 2050.<\/p>\n<p>In low- and middle-income countries the figure was more than four per cent.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"pquote\">\n<blockquote><p>These countries urgently need greater attention and support for AMR prevention and control, as they are on the frontline of this growing <a title=\"Senior Lecturer\/Lecturer: Department of Global Health\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/senior-lecturer-lecturer-department-of-global-health\">global health<\/a> threat<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&#8211; Lianping Yang, an associate professor at the School of <a title=\"Climate change threatens public health and increases foodborne diseases\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/climate-change-threatens-public-health-and-increases-foodborne-diseases\">Public Health<\/a> at China\u2019s Sun Yat-sen University<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Lead author Lianping Yang, an associate professor at the School of Public Health at China\u2019s Sun Yat-sen University, says the effects of climate change \u2014 such as rising temperatures and extreme weather events \u2014 can impact all countries.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHowever, our <a title=\"Tech4Nature partners announce project to study impact of tourism on biodiversity in Spain\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/tech4nature-partners-announce-project-to-study-impact-of-tourism-on-biodiversity-in-spain\">study shows that the increase in AMR is projected<\/a> to be much steeper in low- and middle-income countries,\u201d he told\u00a0<em>SciDev.Net.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is largely because these countries often <a title=\"Serengeti and Maasai Mara face climate change challenges for wildlife and tourism\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/serengeti-and-maasai-mara-face-climate-change-challenges-for-wildlife-and-tourism\">face greater challenges<\/a> in healthcare access, public health infrastructure, and overall population health.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bacterial AMR was linked to 4.71 million deaths in 2021, according to a previous study in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/action\/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2824%2901867-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>The Lancet<\/em><\/a>. It was found to be directly responsible for an estimated 1.14 <a title=\"Nearly 68 Million affected by Southern Africa drought\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/nearly-68-million-affected-by-southern-africa-drought\">million deaths \u2014 a figure expected to rise to nearly<\/a> 2 million deaths by 2050.<\/p>\n<p>However, much of the AMR response has been focused on excessive antibiotic use, and less attention has been given to the context of climate change and socioeconomic conditions, the Chinese <a title=\"36-Million-Year Cycle Drives Biodiversity, Say Scientists\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/36-million-year-cycle-drives-biodiversity-say-scientists\">scientists say<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>By exploring the connections between them, the researchers hope to spur more targeted and efficient strategies that address both challenges at once, especially for low- and middle-income countries.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen climate-related stresses occur in places with limited clean water, sanitation, and medical services, the risk of infections rises \u2014 and so does the reliance on antibiotics, which can accelerate resistance,\u201d explained Yang.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn short, climate change acts as a multiplier of existing vulnerabilities, making the AMR problem more severe in parts of the world that are already struggling with basic health and environmental protections.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The researchers analysed more than 4,500 records encompassing 32 million isolates of six key bacterial pathogens (bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms) resistant to antimicrobials, obtained from 101 countries between 1999 and 2022.<\/p>\n<p>They then used forecasting models to investigate how socioeconomic and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scidev.net\/global\/environment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">environmental<\/a>\u00a0factors and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scidev.net\/global\/governance\/policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">policies<\/a>\u00a0would influence global AMR trends.<\/p>\n<p>They found that under the worst-case climate scenario, in which global temperatures would increase by 4-5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century from pre-industrial levels, AMR could increase by 2.4 per cent by 2050, compared to a low-emissions scenario.<\/p>\n<p>This varied from 0.9 per cent in high-income countries to 4.1 per cent in low- and middle-income countries.<\/p>\n<p>Yang said low- and middle-income countries in parts of <a title=\"BID call for proposals: Sub-Saharan Africa 2020\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/bid-call-for-proposals-sub-saharan-africa-2020\">Sub-Saharan Africa<\/a>, South Asia, and Southeast Asia that are both economically less developed and highly exposed to the impacts of climate change will be more vulnerable.<\/p>\n<h3>Perfect storm<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cThese regions often face a combination of challenges: limited access to clean <a title=\"Masters Studies in Water and Sanitation 2023-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/masters-studies-in-water-and-sanitation-2023-24\">water and sanitation<\/a>, under-resourced healthcare systems, and high levels of infectious disease,\u201d he told\u00a0<em>SciDev.Net<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen these vulnerabilities are combined with the effects of climate change \u2014 such as rising temperatures, floods, and <a title=\"Record extreme weather events fueled by climate change in 2024\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/record-extreme-weather-events-fueled-by-climate-change-in-2024\">extreme weather<\/a> \u2014 they create ideal conditions for drug-resistant infections to spread.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He believes addressing these <a title=\"Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/seeding-the-future-global-food-system-challenge\">challenges is a global<\/a> responsibility, not just a local one.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese countries urgently need greater attention and support for AMR prevention and control, as they are on the frontline of this growing global health threat,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>The <a title=\"AWARD One Planet Fellowship call for young climate researchers seeking career acceleration opportunity\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/award-one-planet-fellowship-call-for-young-climate-researchers-seeking-career-acceleration-opportunity\">researchers called<\/a> for urgent action to address broader socioeconomic and environmental factors beyond simply reducing antibiotic use to mitigate the global AMR burden.<\/p>\n<p>They suggest that sustainable development strategies could reduce the future prevalence of AMR by 5.1 per cent and surpass the effect of reducing antimicrobial consumption, which is projected to lower AMR prevalence by 2.1 per cent.<\/p>\n<h3>Extreme weather<\/h3>\n<p>David Graham, an environmental engineer at Durham University, in the UK, said the findings of this study make sense.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is very probable <a title=\"Supporting climate innovation in the 2025 Climate Change Challenge\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/supporting-climate-innovation-in-the-2025-climate-change-challenge\">climate changes<\/a>, especially warming, and more extreme and sporadic droughts and floods, will increase AMR transmission and spread,\u201d he told\u00a0<em>SciDev.Net.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs temperatures increase, gut pathogens who like warmer temperatures, including AMR strains, will grow more rapidly in the environment and prevail longer, increasing the probability of AMR everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He says the problem will be exacerbated by more extreme weather events, such as more intense rainfall and flooding, increasing the uncontrolled spread of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scidev.net\/global\/environment\/water\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">water<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scidev.net\/global\/environment\/pollution\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pollutants<\/a>\u00a0and diseases.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe scale of the dataset is impressive,\u201d added Graham, who has developed an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/10.1021\/acs.est.4c07842\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AI tool<\/a>\u00a0to tackle AMR.<\/p>\n<p>However, he says the analysis neglects to consider a few important factors related to AMR expansion or reduction, such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scidev.net\/global\/communication\/education\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">education<\/a>, antimicrobial use in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scidev.net\/global\/agriculture\/food-security\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">food<\/a>\u00a0production, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scidev.net\/global\/agriculture\/livestock\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">animal farming<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis work could be enhanced by the use of growing AI and other intelligent search methods, which are able to expand the scale of analysis of examining larger and more complex databases,\u201d he suggested<em>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Speed read Resistance to antimicrobial drugs is rising with climate change, hitting poorest Increase in lower-income countries could be as high as 4.1 per cent by 2050 Climate must be central to policies to address antimicrobial resistance [NAIROBI] It is well known that poorer countries bear the biggest burden of resistance to antimicrobial drugs and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11097,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11096","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11096"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11096\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11101,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11096\/revisions\/11101"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11097"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}