"During the past seven decades, antimicrobial agents have played a critical role in reducing the burden of communicable diseases all over the world. The emergence of resistance and its rapid spread is negating the impact of these drugs, obstructing progress towards achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and hindering effective application of modern technologies in mitigating human misery. While appearance of resistance is a continuous phenomenon in microorganisms, its amplification and spread is through an array of practices employed by human beings. Improper utilization of antimicrobial agents, especially in high disease-burden settings (viz. hospitals) and for nontherapeutic use as in the veterinary sector, result in strong selection pressure that allows the resistant strain to grow and rapidly replace the susceptible isolates. An effective response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is possible through treatment policies such as combination therapy, rational prescription, patient adherence, strong regulatory mechanism and educational activities, along with an efficient surveillance system that monitors the emergence and spread of resistance, as well as the utilization of antimicrobial agents..."