The core reason that AI-driven triage is essential for combating AMR is that it directly addresses two primary drivers of resistance: the misuse of antibiotics and the transmission of resistant organisms, particularly in overwhelmed healthcare settings.

1. Enforcing Antibiotic Stewardship: AI triage systems help ensure that antibiotics are reserved for cases where they are genuinely needed. Misuse and overuse of antibiotics accelerate the emergence and spread of resistance.
   • AI tools can accurately assess symptoms at the point of first contact, guiding individuals to the appropriate care pathway (e.g., self-care, pharmacist, emergency care). This provides an alternative to the practice of empiric antibiotic prescribing, which accounts for the vast majority of prescriptions, particularly when there is uncertainty, such as in cases of viral infections where antibiotics are inappropriate.
   • Systems like DrMaya GPT use ccolour-coded triage based on symptom combinations to simulate clinical reasoning and assess severity and urgency. This moves beyond simplistic algorithms, which are crucial for rationalising antimicrobial use.
2. Reducing Nosocomial (Hospital-Acquired) Transmission: Hospitals are becoming "colonization zones" for resistant organisms. AMR infections are strongly associated with healthcare settings, and inadequate infection prevention measures in one facility can affect others.
   • AI triage is critical for preventing unnecessary hospital visits,reducings transmission risks,freeings up resources, andprotectings people from acquiring resistant infections in the hospital environment.
   • During crises, AI tools enable decentralised medical decision-making when doctors are unreachable or systems are overwhelmed, providing families with guidance they can trust immediately.
   • AI can facilitate early public health interventions by identifying cases suggestive of infection (e.g., using the "Blue" category in a colour-coded system) and advising immediate isolation to protect relatives and prevent travel, thus minimising community spread.
3. Filling Gaps in Healthcare Infrastructure: AI tools offer scalable solutions to address doctor shortages and rising costs. This accessibility helps ensure that individuals receive timely, appropriate guidance even when telemedicine is overwhelmed or local clinics close.