Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR)

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents one of the most pressing and complex global health threats of our time, undermining decades of progress in infectious disease management and modern medicine. It arises when microorganisms—including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites—evolve mechanisms to evade the effects of antimicrobial therapies, leading to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and pan drug-resistant (PDR) pathogens.

While AMR is a natural biological phenomenon, its acceleration is driven by systemic challenges, including the inappropriate use of antimicrobials across human health, agriculture, and animal sectors; gaps in infection prevention and control; and disparities in sanitation and healthcare infrastructure. These interconnected drivers underscore the need for a coordinated, multi-sectoral “One Health” approach.

The implications of AMR are far-reaching—impacting patient outcomes, straining healthcare systems, and threatening the viability of critical medical interventions such as surgery, transplantation, and cancer therapy. Without decisive action, AMR risks reversing key gains in global health and significantly increasing the economic burden of care.

SingHealth clinician-scientists are at the forefront of addressing this challenge through integrated, translational research. By advancing the understanding of resistance mechanisms, developing next-generation diagnostics and therapeutics, and informing evidence-based policy and clinical practice, these efforts aim to strengthen health system resilience and drive sustainable, long-term solutions to combat AMR.