The Rise of Antimicrobial Resistance in Mass Gatherings

Bokhary, Hamid; Rashid, Harunor; Hill-Cawthorne, Grant A.; Ghany, Moataz Abd El

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-36811-1_47

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…Such gatherings increase the risk of especially communicable diseases that pose challenges to healthcare authorities [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Mass gatherings have been reported to have a considerable impact on an individual’s health and subsequent implications on the host’s country infrastructure and economy [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. These mass gatherings can result in the dissemination of multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains and the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on a global scale [ 3 , 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”

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confidence: 99%

Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance among Pilgrims with Infectious Diseases during Hajj: Lessons Learnt from COVID-19 Pandemic

et al. 2023

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Hajj pilgrimage is a large mass gathering global event that may facilitate the spread and emergence of various infectious diseases as well as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in a local and global scenario. Planning and preparing for these public health issues is a challenging and complex process for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) health authorities. Despite multiple efforts for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases through longtime funding in education and medical care, the prevalence of infectious disease is still high among Hajj pilgrims. The commonly observed infectious diseases during Hajj include respiratory tract infections (influenza and pneumonia), urinary tract infections and skin infections that may necessitate the use of antimicrobials. Beta-lactams are used as a first-line treatment for hospital acquired infections as well as community acquired infections due to their broad-spectrum activity. However, most of the bacterial isolates such as Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp. and E. coli are resistant to beta-lactams. Irrational use of antimicrobials, lack of infection prevention practices and suboptimal healthcare access further exacerbate the risk of spreading AMR among Hajj pilgrims. Enhanced collaboration between countries, sharing of best practices and international cooperation are crucial in addressing AMR threats among pilgrims. Consequently, robust surveillance systems for early detection and monitoring of AMR, collaboration with national as well as international healthcare agencies, effective infection prevention and control measures, public awareness and rational use of antimicrobials via antimicrobial stewardship programs are required to mitigate the risk of AMR and ensure the health and well-being of pilgrims during Hajj.

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