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Antimicrobial resistance
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to be one of the top 10 global public health threats. Tackling AMR requires a collective effort from everyone, including the public, healthcare professionals, and the authorities.
Last updated 14 April 2025
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What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?
AMR occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and some parasites develop resistance against antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics. Infections from these microorganisms may persist and spread.
Find facts about AMR here.
Why is AMR a concern?
AMR occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and some parasites develop resistance against antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics. With the development of increasing resistance to antimicrobial agents, many medicines are increasingly losing their ability to treat infections. This threatens to reverse the benefits from the advancements in science and medicine.
WHO warns that drug-resistant diseases could cause 10 million deaths globally each year by 2050, highlighting the projected economic strain from prolonged hospitalisation stays and increased morbidity.
There were 4.95 million global deaths associated with bacterial AMR in 2019, according to a 2022 study published in The Lancet. AMR can affect anyone at any stage of life and is evolving at rates that outpace developments of new antimicrobial agents. AMR developed in one region can potentially spread through trade and travel.
How can healthcare professionals play their part?
Judiciously prescribing antimicrobials play a key role in minimising misuse.
Ensure the 4 Rights when prescribing, dispensing, or administering antimicrobials to patients:
Time;
Dose;
Duration; and
Antimicrobial Agent.
Healthcare professionals should prioritise educating their patients about appropriate antimicrobial use, getting recommended vaccines, and maintaining good hygiene habits to prevent the spread of infections.
Appropriate infection, prevention, and control measures will further reduce the risk of spreading antimicrobial-resistant organisms. Find guidelines on infection, prevention, and control here.
Healthcare professionals should also keep abreast with the latest developments, knowledge, and resistance patterns in their healthcare institutions and communities to improve antimicrobial use in clinical practice.
Lastly, actions such as supporting institutional and national AMR surveillance programmes or reporting AMR outbreaks promptly to authorities are essential to control the spread of AMR.
Singapore’s National Strategic Action Plan on AMR
Launched in 2017, Singapore’s National Strategic Action Plan (NSAP) on AMR is aligned with global objectives set in the WHO Global Action Plan on AMR. This includes improving AMR awareness, optimising the use of antimicrobials, strengthening surveillance and research, and reducing infections.
The NSAP adopts a One Health approach to combat AMR through cross-sectoral collaboration. It brings the Ministry of Health (MOH), Health Promotion Board (HPB), National Parks Board (NParks), National Environment Agency (NEA), Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency, to coordinate and drive AMR efforts across the human, environmental, food, and animal sectors.
The NSAP aims to reduce the emergence and prevent the spread of drug-resistant organisms through five core strategies:
Raising awareness and understanding of AMR and appropriate antimicrobial use through education.
Understanding the levels, distribution and trends of resistant organisms and antimicrobial use through regular surveillance and risk assessment.
Filling gaps in knowledge and improving our understanding of the AMR situation through research.
Reducing the spread of drug-resistant organisms through effective prevention and control of infections.
Reducing inappropriate use and preserving the effectiveness of medicines through the optimisation of antimicrobial use.
Read the NSAP here.
About Antimicrobial Resistance Coordinating Office (AMRCO)
AMRCO under the Communicable Diseases Agency was established in September 2018 as a coordinating body to facilitate the implementation and monitoring of the National Strategic Action Plan (NSAP), coordinate antimicrobial resistance efforts across different sectors, and serve as the secretariat for national AMR committees.
How AMRCO implements the NSAP
Resources for professionals
Download these AMR materials to display at your institution:
