ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

The escalating global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) jeopardizes human health and healthcare systems worldwide. This review delves into the intricacies of AMR, its impact on health, and the role of livestock and aquaculture in driving its emergence. The misuse of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine has expedited AMR development. Livestock and aquaculture use antimicrobials as growth promoters, creating a breeding ground for AMR due to constant sublethal antibiotic exposure. AMR's prevalence discourages new antibiotic development, exacerbated by microorganisms' adaptability through genetic mutations and horizontal gene transfer. Counteracting AMR involves exploring alternative treatments. Bacteriophage therapy, predatory bacteria, and probiotics show promise in recent studies. Antimicrobial peptides, aptamers, antibody-antibiotic conjugates, and gene-editing tools like CRISPR-Cas are under investigation. Nanomaterials, vaccines, and plant-derived compounds also exhibit efficacy. Although these alternatives hold potential, they've not entirely addressed the antibiotic gap. They do, however, complement existing therapies, maximizing impact. In summary, AMR endangers human life, with aquaculture and livestock accelerating its rise. Microorganisms' adaptability hampers antibiotic development, necessitating alternative strategies. While promising, further research is crucial to fully exploit these methods, safeguarding human health from the AMR menace.