Community engagement to mitigate antimicrobial resistance in low-and middle-income countries – an essential strategy for implementation of national action plans on AMR

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity, causing poor health outcomes, increased healthcare expenditure, and affecting food production. It is driven by various factors, including inappropriate use of antimicrobials, poor water, sanitation, hygiene, and improper waste disposal. To prevent and mitigate AMR, a whole-of-society approach is needed. Community engagement is crucial for effective policy implementation. AMR presents a framing challenge, and a bottom-up approach is needed. Pilot projects like the ‘Antibiotic Smart Communities’ project in Kerala, India, have shown the importance of community engagement in containing AMR. Investing in such models is crucial for optimizing policy implementation and achieving an ‘Antibiotic Smart’ community.