Globally, the treatment of drug-resistant bacterial infections alone costs an estimated US$ 412 billion annually, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) could result in US$ 1 trillion additional healthcare costs per year by 2050. AMR occurs mostly due to the inappropriate use of antibiotics in humans, animals and agriculture. It disproportionately affects the developing countries and poses a major threat to healthcare globally. The WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region has the highest – and fastest rising – level of antibiotic consumption among the WHO regions.
In May 2024, the 77th World Health Assembly endorsed the WHO strategic and operational priorities to address drug-resistant bacterial infections in the human health sector (2025–2035), with four strategic priorities: infection prevention; universal access to affordable and quality diagnosis and appropriate treatment of infections; strategic information, science and innovation; and effective governance and financing of the human health sector response to AMR. In September 2024, the 79th UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AMR secured strong political commitment from Member States to accelerate actions on AMR across all sectors. And in October 2024, the 71st Session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean endorsed a regional, people-centred collaborative approach to addressing AMR.
The Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal (EMHJ) is calling for submissions for a special issue on antimicrobial resistance.
Types of manuscripts expected
Manuscripts can be developed and submitted as commentaries, original research articles, short research communication, review articles, and reports. Among others, manuscripts should focus on any of the following priority areas, in support of the regional plan to promote collaborative action to accelerate response to antimicrobial resistance:
1. Antimicrobial governance at country, sub-country and regional levels
a. National and international policies to combat AMR
b. Global AMR collaborations and partnerships
2. AMR epidemiologic trends at the country or regional level, including the use of strategic information and evidence for AMR control
a. Surveillance methods and data analysis
b. Drivers and risk factors for AMR
3. AMR as an integral part of infection prevention and control, including antibiotic stewardship and prevention strategies
4. AMR control at health services provision level, including related complications
5. Emergence and control of AMR in health emergency and humanitarian settings
6. Development of new antibiotics and antimicrobial agents
7. One Health approach, including environmental factors contributing to AMR and One Health initiatives (AMR in animals, humans and the environment)
Submission information
Interested authors should submit their manuscripts through the Editorial Manager at: https://www2.cloud.editorialmanager.com/emhj/.
Manuscripts must comply with the “Information for authors” available at: https://www.emro.who.int/emh-journal/authors/
Please indicate in your submission that the manuscript is for consideration for the special issue on ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE.
Deadline for manuscript submission: 15 February 2025
For further information, contact:
