An analysis of the contributory factors to antimicrobial resistance in Sri Lanka
Post Graduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Research Article
International Journal of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences Archive, 2026, 12(01), 069–074.
Article DOI: 10.53771/ijbpsa.2026.12.1.0073
Publication history:
Received on 20 June 2026; revised on 24 July 2026; accepted on 27 July 2026
Abstract:
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health challenge that threatens the effective treatment of infectious diseases and increases morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs worldwide. Sri Lanka has also experienced increasing resistance among priority pathogens, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and promote the rational use of antimicrobials.
This case study aimed to identify the major contributing factors leading to antimicrobial resistance in Sri Lanka and to develop practical recommendations to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship. The analysis was based on key informant interviews with healthcare professionals and a review of national and international policies, guidelines, surveillance reports, and scientific literature. A fishbone diagram was used to identify the root causes of AMR.
The study identified several interconnected factors contributing to AMR, including inadequate knowledge of AMS among healthcare workers, inappropriate prescribing practices, poor adherence to national treatment guidelines, weak implementation of stewardship programmes, limited microbiology laboratory capacity, inadequate monitoring and audit mechanisms, easy access to antibiotics without prescriptions, and overcrowding in hospitals.
Based on these findings, the study recommends strengthening hospital-based AMS programmes, improving education and training of healthcare workers, establishing regular antibiotic prescription audits, expanding microbiology laboratory services, and strengthening regulation of community antibiotic use. Implementing these recommendations through coordinated action by policymakers, healthcare institutions, and healthcare professionals will help preserve the effectiveness of existing antimicrobials, improve patient outcomes, and reduce the burden of antimicrobial resistance in Sri Lanka.
Keywords:
Antimicrobial Resistance; Antimicrobial Stewardship; Rational antibiotic use; Infection Prevention
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Copyright © 2026 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0