Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
Science & Technology
- PYQs7
- Articles2
Background
AMR is a major public health crisis with significant implications for healthcare systems, economic burden, and global health security. UPSC focuses on its causes, impacts, and national/international strategies for mitigation, including the role of drug quality and regulation.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death. It is a major global public health threat.
Facts & tables
- Definition
- Microorganisms evolve to resist drugs, rendering medicines ineffective.
- Causes
- Overuse/misuse of antibiotics (e.g., irrational FDCs), poor infection control, lack of new drugs.
- Consequences
- Treatment failure, prolonged illness, increased mortality, higher healthcare costs.
- Global threat
- Recognized by WHO as one of the top 10 global public health threats.
- Prevalence in India
- India has one of the world's highest antimicrobial resistance rates.
- Contributing Factors
- Substandard antimicrobials lead to sub-therapeutic dosing, exerting selection pressure on resistant strains.
- Global Concern
- WHO has flagged high volumes of fake antimicrobials in low- and middle-income countries.
- Mitigation Strategy
- Drug traceability frameworks are crucial to ensure the quality and authenticity of antimicrobials, thereby helping to mitigate AMR.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Public Health |
| Conceptual area | Global Health Issues |
| Conceptual area | Science & Technology |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Health and Family Welfare | Develops national action plans to combat amr |
| World Health Organization (WHO) | Leads global efforts to combat amr, provides guidelines |
| WHO | Flags issues, global efforts |
| Health Ministry | National response |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Cause and effect relationships
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
- AMR: Microbes resist drugs, making infections untreatable.
- Irrational antibiotic FDCs worsen AMR.
- Major global health threat.
- Requires responsible antibiotic use and new drug development.
- Government policies crucial for containment.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2021 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2020 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2019 | Cause and effect relationships, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2016 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2015 | Factual recall |
Timeline
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Public Health
Conceptual area
-
Global Health Issues
Conceptual area
-
Science & Technology
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2015
Factual recall
-
Prelims 2016
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2019
Cause and effect relationships, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2020
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2021
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
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Stay with the evidence: On the ban on Fixed Dose Combination drugs
AMR is a critical global health challenge where microbes become resistant to drugs, often exacerbated by irrational drug use like certain FDCs, necessitating comprehensive strategies for surveillance, prevention, and responsible antimicrobial stewardship.
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Buyer Beware: The Hindu Editorial on the QR code-based drug traceability framework
A critical global health challenge where microbes evolve to resist drugs, making infections untreatable. India faces high AMR rates, exacerbated by substandard medicines. Robust drug quality control and traceability systems are vital to combat this growing threat.
See also
Past papers
2019–2025 · 5 questions
In the news
Buyer Beware: The Hindu Editorial on the QR code-based drug traceability framework
A critical global health challenge where microbes evolve to resist drugs, making infections untreatable. India faces high AMR rates, exacerbated by substandard medicines. Robust drug quality control and traceability systems are vital to combat this growing threat.
Stay with the evidence: On the ban on Fixed Dose Combination drugs
AMR is a critical global health challenge where microbes become resistant to drugs, often exacerbated by irrational drug use like certain FDCs, necessitating comprehensive strategies for surveillance, prevention, and responsible antimicrobial stewardship.
Try these PYQs
Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India?
1. Genetic predisposition of some people
2. Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases
3. Using antibiotics in livestock farming
4. Multiple chronic diseases in some people
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Statement 1 is incorrect. While genetic factors can contribute to susceptibility to infections, they are not directly related to the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens. Statement 2 is correct. Incorrect use of antibiotics, including taking incorrect doses or not completing the full course of treatment, can contribute to the development of drug resistance in microbial pathogens. Statement 3 is correct. The widespread use of antibiotics in livestock farming can lead to the development of drug-resistant pathogens that can affect both animals and humans. Statement 4 is incorrect. While individuals with chronic diseases may be more susceptible to infections, this factor is not directly related to the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens.
What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India?
1. These vaccines are effective against pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis.
2. Dependence on antibiotics that are not effective against drug-resistant bacteria can be reduced.
3. These vaccines have no side effects and cause no allergic reactions.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Statement 1 is correct. Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (PCVs) are effective in preventing several serious diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. This includes pneumonia, meningitis (inflammation of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord), and sepsis (a life-threatening blood infection). Statement 2 is also correct. The growing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major concern. PCV vaccination helps reduce dependence on antibiotics, particularly for these resistant strains. This lowers the risk of antibiotic overuse and emergence of further resistance. Statement 3 is incorrect. While most people experience no serious side effects with PCV vaccines, there can be mild reactions like redness, swelling, or soreness at the injection site. Serious allergic reactions are rare.
Consider the following statements:
1. Biofilms can form on medical implants within human tissues.
2. Biofilms can form on food and food processing surfaces.
3. Biofilms can exhibit antibiotic resistance.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
* Statement 1 is correct: Biofilms are a major concern in healthcare. They can form on implanted devices like catheters, heart valves, and artificial joints within human tissues. These biofilms can harbour bacteria that are difficult to eradicate with antibiotics, leading to chronic infections and potential implant failure. * Statement 2 is correct: Biofilms can also form on food and food processing surfaces. This can contaminate food with bacteria and contribute to spoilage. Biofilms on these surfaces are also challenging to remove due to their protective matrix. * Statement 3 is correct: Bacteria within biofilms can exhibit increased resistance to antibiotics. The biofilm matrix acts as a barrier, making it harder for antibiotics to reach and kill the bacteria. Additionally, bacteria within biofilms can communicate and share genetic material, potentially promoting the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. All three statements are correct.
With reference to monoclonal antibodies, often mentioned in news, consider the following statements:
I. They are man-made proteins.
II. They stimulate immunological function due to their ability to bind to specific antigens.
III. They are used in treating viral infections like that of Nipah virus.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made proteins that target specific antigens and can be used to treat viral infections like Nipah virus. * ✅ I. Man-made proteins – Created by cloning a single immune cell type. * ✅II. Bind to specific antigens – Help stimulate or guide immune response. * ✅III. Used in viral infections – Applied in treating infections like Nipah virus. All three statements are correct.
With reference to recent developments regarding ‘Recombinant Vector Vaccines’, consider the following statements:
1. Genetic engineering is applied in the development of these vaccines.
2. Bacteria and viruses are used as vectors.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is correct. Genetic engineering in vaccine development works by modifying the genetic material of viruses, bacteria, or lab-grown cells to produce specific proteins that trigger an immune response. Scientists first identify a target protein from a pathogen that can help the immune system recognize and fight it. They then insert the gene coding for this protein into a harmless virus, bacterial cell, or a lab-grown system, which acts as a factory to produce large amounts of the antigen. The antigen is then purified and combined with other ingredients to create the final vaccine. When injected, the vaccine stimulates the immune system to recognize and attack the actual pathogen if encountered in the future. This approach is used in various vaccines, including mRNA vaccines like those for COVID-19 and recombinant protein vaccines like the Hepatitis B vaccine. Statement 2 is correct. Bacteria and viruses are commonly used as vectors in recombinant vector vaccines. These vectors serve as delivery vehicles to transport genetic material from the target pathogen into host cells, where the antigens are produced. The host immune system then recognizes these antigens and mounts an immune response. | Vector Type | Examples of Vectors |
|------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Viral Vectors | Adenovirus, Vaccinia Virus (MVA), Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV), Measles Virus, Influenza Virus |
| Bacterial Vectors| Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) |
| Fungal Vectors | Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Yeast) |
| Protozoan Vectors| Leishmania donovani, Trypanosoma cruzi |
Show 2 more PYQs
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
Viruses can infect -
1. Bacteria
2. Fungi
3. Plants
Statement 1 is correct: Viruses that infect bacteria are known as bacteriophages or phages. These viruses use bacterial cells as hosts to replicate and propagate. Statement 2 is correct: Certain viruses, called mycoviruses, can infect and replicate within fungal cells, using them as hosts. Statement 3 is correct: Viruses that infect plants are known as plant viruses. They can hijack the cellular machinery of plant cells to replicate and spread within the plant. Hence, option D is the correct answer.
Among the following which was frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of the Ebola virus recently?
Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia were in the news for the outbreak of the Ebola virus. The most widespread outbreak of the Ebola virus disease began in 2013 and continued until 2016, causing major loss of life and socio-economic disruption in the West African region, mainly in the countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
The first cases were recorded in Guinea in December 2013. Later, the disease spread to neighboring Liberia and Sierra Leone. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.