A major challenge in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) lies in the public's fundamental misunderstanding of the issue, with many people mistakenly believing that the human body becomes resistant to antibiotics, when in fact, it is the bacteria themselves that evolve to withstand these medicines, says Dr Manica Balasegaram, a leading expert at the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP).

“This misunderstanding reveals a deeper problem in how we communicate scientific concepts to the general public,” Dr Balasegaram told First Check in an interview.  "It (AMR) is a very technical term and often there is a lack of information to explain to lay people what it really means and why it happens." 

Dr. Balasegaram said that society has fundamentally failed to recognize antibiotics as a critical public good with immense social value. "We have not sufficiently explained to people that this is a public good. It has huge social value," he pointed out. “The introduction of antibiotics dramatically increased human life expectancy, representing a medical milestone that is now often taken for granted.”

The GARDP expert lamented that people’s healthcare habits aren't helping the matters. “Most medical interactions now happen outside doctors' offices, in pharmacies and other settings, with people often self-medicating based on guesswork,”. Dr Balasegaram said. 

"The natural instinct when people think they have infections is to seek out treatment, perhaps a treatment that they know has worked in the past. They may not realize that antibiotics only work against bacterial—not viral—infections, and that antibiotic treatments are specific to the type of bacteria and infection. Antibiotics can make all the difference if you have a serious bacterial infection, but they are completely worthless when it comes to treating a common cold," he added.

The knowledge gap, according to Dr Balasegaram, is not limited to the general public. “Many medical professionals also struggle to understand the complexities of antibiotics," he said, adding that even his colleagues are often in the dark. "They don't understand how difficult it is to develop an antibiotic. They don't understand that the antibiotic market is dysfunctional." 

Dr Balasegaram blamed the education system, saying we're teaching science “all wrong”. 

"A lot of it is about scientific literacy and how we make scientific literacy really relevant in our education," he said, criticizing existing curricula that prioritize redundant information over practical, life-relevant knowledge. “Many students learn complex scientific concepts that they will never use again, while missing crucial understanding of daily biological processes that could significantly impact their health decisions.”

The antimicrobial resistance research field, he said, faces its own unique challenges. “It is not perceived as a commercially lucrative or academically attractive domain, which further limits innovation and understanding,” Dr Balasegaram said. “This means the most critical medical research struggles to attract talented researchers and funding.”

However, the GARDP expert sees reason for optimism. “There are signs of increased public interest, with more medical professionals seeking deeper understanding of AMR,” he said. "Now some of my medical friends contact me and ask me questions." 

The solution isn't simple, Dr Balasegaram said, calling for a rethink of how we teach people about health, biology, and the critical role of medical treatments like antibiotics. 

“We must transform antimicrobial resistance from a complex scientific issue into something everyone understands and takes seriously,” he said.  “By breaking down complex concepts, improving scientific literacy, and recognizing the true value of antibiotics, we can begin to address one of the most critical challenges in global health.”

Also read: 7,50,000 AMR-related deaths can be prevented annually: The Lancet - First Check