Climate Change and Antimicrobial Resistance: A Growing Crisis in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, a Scoping Review
1
Public Health, Life Stock Management Services, Abuja, Nigeria
2
Public Health, 2. Nile University Of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
3
Physiology, BaylorScott & White, Texas, United States
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Rising global temperatures, now 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels, accelerate the spread of resistant pathogens, with evidence suggesting a 4-6% increase in resistance for every 1°C rise in temperature. In LMICs, where 70% of antibiotics are used in unregulated agricultural practices, climate-induced stress on livestock amplifies antibiotic misuse. Globally, AMR is linked to 1.27 million deaths annually, with LMICs disproportionately affected, accounting for over 80% of these fatalities. Economic projections indicate that by 2050, unchecked AMR could reduce global GDP by 3.8% annually, pushing 28 million people into poverty, with LMICs bearing the brunt¹⁻³.
OBJECTIVE:
This study investigates the intricate relationship between climate change and AMR in LMICs, focusing on environmental, agricultural, and socioeconomic drivers, while proposing actionable interventions to mitigate their compounded impact.
METHODS:
A comprehensive scoping review of scientific literature, global health reports, and climate-AMR datasets from 2020 to 2024 was conducted. Key statistics from WHO, The Lancet, and the World Bank were analyzed to support findings¹⁻³.
RESULTS:
The review highpoints synergistic effects of climate change and AMR: • Rising temperatures enhance horizontal gene transfer among pathogens, increasing AMR prevalence. • Flooding events facilitates the contamination of water systems with resistant bacteria. • Agricultural antibiotic use in LMICs is projected to rise by 67% by 2030, driven by climate-stressed food systems. • Annual AMR-related deaths in LMICs are expected to reach 1.91 million by 2050, with indirect effects contributing to 8.22 million deaths³⁻⁷.
CONCLUSIONS:
The intersection of climate change and AMR poses an existential threat, particularly in LMICs where vulnerabilities are magnified by limited resources and weak health systems. Addressing this dual crisis requires integrated approaches, including the One Health framework, robust environmental policies, sustainable agricultural practices, and investment in healthcare infrastructure. Collaborative global action and targeted interventions are necessary to safeguarding public health and reducing health inequities.
Rising global temperatures, now 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels, accelerate the spread of resistant pathogens, with evidence suggesting a 4-6% increase in resistance for every 1°C rise in temperature. In LMICs, where 70% of antibiotics are used in unregulated agricultural practices, climate-induced stress on livestock amplifies antibiotic misuse. Globally, AMR is linked to 1.27 million deaths annually, with LMICs disproportionately affected, accounting for over 80% of these fatalities. Economic projections indicate that by 2050, unchecked AMR could reduce global GDP by 3.8% annually, pushing 28 million people into poverty, with LMICs bearing the brunt¹⁻³.
OBJECTIVE:
This study investigates the intricate relationship between climate change and AMR in LMICs, focusing on environmental, agricultural, and socioeconomic drivers, while proposing actionable interventions to mitigate their compounded impact.
METHODS:
A comprehensive scoping review of scientific literature, global health reports, and climate-AMR datasets from 2020 to 2024 was conducted. Key statistics from WHO, The Lancet, and the World Bank were analyzed to support findings¹⁻³.
RESULTS:
The review highpoints synergistic effects of climate change and AMR: • Rising temperatures enhance horizontal gene transfer among pathogens, increasing AMR prevalence. • Flooding events facilitates the contamination of water systems with resistant bacteria. • Agricultural antibiotic use in LMICs is projected to rise by 67% by 2030, driven by climate-stressed food systems. • Annual AMR-related deaths in LMICs are expected to reach 1.91 million by 2050, with indirect effects contributing to 8.22 million deaths³⁻⁷.
CONCLUSIONS:
The intersection of climate change and AMR poses an existential threat, particularly in LMICs where vulnerabilities are magnified by limited resources and weak health systems. Addressing this dual crisis requires integrated approaches, including the One Health framework, robust environmental policies, sustainable agricultural practices, and investment in healthcare infrastructure. Collaborative global action and targeted interventions are necessary to safeguarding public health and reducing health inequities.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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