Conflict Breeds Drug-Resistance – And This Is Not Being Addressed

Conflict is a “bio-incubator” of anti-microbial resistance (AMR), according to Professor Richard Sullivan, co-director of the Centre for Conflict & Health Research at King’s College. Drug-resistant pathogens thrive in war wounds treated in sub-optimal conditions and environments contaminated by heavy metals from bombs. Around 30% of the global population, 2.4 billion people, live in conflict zones. Current conflict in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine involves the increasing use of heavy munitions and fighting in built-up areas, causing extraordinary toxification of the environment. Implementation gaps include better training of health workers to debride wounds and provision of kits for infected wounds.