Antimicrobials are used to kill or slow the growth of
bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. They can be in the form
of antibiotics, used to treat bodily infections, or as an additive
or coating on commercial products used to keep germs at bay. These
life-saving tools are essential to preventing and treating
infections in humans, animals and plants, but they also pose a
global threat to public health when microorganisms develop
resistance to them, a concept known as antimicrobial
resistance.
