A perspective on the role of AMR among the migrants in Sweden that could pave way for policy changes.
This is a Perspective review paper that we wrote to highlight a particular aspect of risk linked to AMR that involves the complex area of migrant health care. This idea too evolved from the same PHED international conference co-hosted by Lund and Malmö Universities, Sweden in October 2019 (My lecture Topic: “AMR and Migrants – an analysis and potential solutions”).
Infectious diseases compounded by AMR are a major concern as the microbes evolve their mechanisms of resistance for their survival. Among the migrants, existing research shows that sub-optimal living conditions and poor access to healthcare which could be significant factors in the spread and propagation of AMR.
We report recent evidences of an higher prevalence of AMR in strains isolated in migrant populations of different origins. The topic is very sensitive; not to blame either populations, and also that there is very little literature available exploring AMR among forced migrants. Without engaging with the politics around migration control, we point to the urgent need for more holistic assessment of all public policies. We stress that screening for infectious diseases should be implemented.
This research discussion was executed after I joined Acharya Institutes as the Campus Director of the Acharya group of Institutions- from 2020.
Elisabeth Mangrio, Maneesh Paul Satyaseela, Katarina S. Forss, Slobodan Zdravkovic, and Michael Strange
Frontiers Public Health: Infectious Diseases https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.642983/abstract Provisionally accepted on June 11, 2021
Antimicrobial Resistance & migrants in Sweden: poor living conditions enforced by migration control policies as a risk factor for optimal public health management
Infectious diseases exacerbated by Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) are of increasing concern in Sweden, with multi-drug resistant strains associated with new resistance mechanisms that are emerging and spreading worldwide. Existing research has identified that sub-optimal living conditions and poor access to healthcare are significant factors in the spread and incubation of AMR strains. The article considers this linkage and the effort to control the spread of AMR in relation to migrants, highlighting deficiencies in public policy where such individuals are often increasingly exposed to those conditions that exacerbate AMR. In many of the richest countries, those conditions are not accidental, but often direct goals of policies designed with the goal of deterring migrants from staying within host countries. Without engaging with the politics around migration control, the article points to urgent need for more holistic assessment of all public policies that may, however unintentionally, undermine AMR control through worsening living conditions for vulnerable groups. The consequences of prioritizing policies meant to deliberately worsen the living conditions of migrants over avoiding those conditions that accelerate AMR spread, are today made ever apparent where new AMR strains have the potential to dwarf the societal effects of the current Covid-19 pandemic.
Originally published at http://discover.ind.in on June 16, 2021.
