Perspective on Pharma: Tackling AMR through sustainable antibiotic production

Antimicrobial resistance occurs naturally over time but the misuse and overuse are seen as the core problems accelerating the process of AMR. One area that is frequently overlooked is the environmental impact of antibiotics, including its production.

The production process of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and antibiotics naturally creates wastewater, which contains residual levels of antimicrobials. Sustainable production processes then see this wastewater treated, so that it is considered safe to release into the environment. However, this is not always the case and if not treated correctly or effectively, then antibiotics are released into the waterways, accelerating AMR through the environment.