Antimicrobial resistance in Viet Nam

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites to grow in the presence of a drug that would normally kill them or limit their growth. As a result, normal treatments become ineffective. Infections therefore become more serious, leading to longer illness, higher treatment cost and greater risk of death. Because of AMR, a growing number of common infections, such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, tuberculosis and food-borne illness are becoming harder and sometimes impossible to treat.

AMR is a public health threat worldwide, affecting the health and lives of people and the sustainability of the country’s overall development. Viet Nam is among the countries that in recent years, have witnessed a growing threat of AMR, brought about by the irrational use of antibiotics at all levels of the health care system, in aquaculture and livestock production and in the community.