Antimicrobial Resistance Lab, ICGEB Trieste, ITALY
When the Drugs Don’t Work: The Silent Pandemic of Antimicrobial Resistance
Host:E. Buratti
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) happens when the germs that cause infections — such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi — change and stop responding to the medicines designed to kill them. As a result, antibiotics and other treatments become less effective, and infections that were once easy to cure can
become serious or even life-threatening. This growing problem is often called a “silent pandemic” because it spreads quietly, without the visibility of other global health crises. Yet its impact is everywhere — in hospitals, on farms, and in our communities. AMR threatens not only human health, but also our food systems, the economy, and the progress of modern medicine.
This seminar will explain what AMR is, why it concerns everyone, and what can be done to fight it. You’ll learn how resistance develops and spreads, how our everyday choices — such as the use of antibiotics or hygiene habits — can make a difference, and what scientists and health organizations are
doing to protect us. By increasing awareness, we can all contribute to slowing down resistance and safeguarding the medicines that save lives. The event is part of World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week 2025, promoted by the World Health Organization under the theme: “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future.”
Let’s take this chance to understand, to act, and to be part of the solution.
International Seminar Programme
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