International Microorganism Day highlights antimicrobial resistance challenges

To mark International Microorganism Day, experts and educational institutions in Portugal highlighted the critical role of microbes and the ongoing challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Jorge Pinto Ferreira, a Food Safety Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), emphasized that while global regulations are being established, the primary challenge remains changing human and professional behaviors. Ferreira noted that while there has been positive progress in environmental awareness and more careful use of antimicrobials in animals, reducing the overall consumption of these substances is essential for global health.

In a separate educational initiative, the Catholic University of Portugal organized the 5th edition of an event to celebrate the day, which commemorates Anton van Leeuwenhoek’s first observation of a microorganism in 1683. The event aimed to sensitize students and the public to the importance of microorganisms in health, the environment, industry, and the economy.