This review explores the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) emergence in patients and how they vary across bacterial infections. It highlights four major mechanisms: spontaneous resistance mutations, in situ horizontal gene transfer, selection of pre-existing resistance, and immigration of resistant lineages. The importance of each mechanism varies between bacterial species and infection sites. The review suggests that integrating ecological and evolutionary analysis into clinical trials of antimicrobials could help understand why these mechanisms vary bet ..read more

The development of a unique antibiotic class targeting lipopolysaccharide synthesis, a clinically unexploited target in Gram-negative bacteria, has been identified. The compounds target the lipopolysaccharide synthesis pathway, which is essential in most Gram-negative bacteria. The compounds have potent in vivo efficacy against bloodstream infections caused by E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The series has favorable properties such as solubility, metabolic stability, and serum protein binding, and lacks pre-existing resistance in clinical isolates. Further development of this class could co ..read more

This study aimed to quantify the variation in antimicrobial resistance prevalence and incidence of bloodstream infections (BSI) by age and sex across bacteria and antibiotics in Europe. Data was collected from routine surveillance between 2015 and 2019 on BSIs in 29 European countries from the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net). The study found distinct patterns in resistance prevalence by age, with trends often varying more within an antibiotic family than within a bacterial species. For methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), age trends were mostly ..read more

A study at the ESCMID Global Congress in Barcelona, Spain, found substantial levels of resistance to critically important antibiotics in meat sold for human and animal consumption. The UK Government Food Standards Agency (FSA) regulates meat for human consumption, but it is not tested for resistant opportunistic pathogens like Escherichia coli. The study investigated 58 samples of uncooked meat and 15 samples of chicken-based raw dog meat for resistant E. coli. The highest sample-level positivity rate for resistant E. coli in uncooked meat for human consumption was found in chicken, with 100 ..read more

The Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) crisis is putting the existing antibiotic arsenal under increasing threat, and researchers are exploring innovative ways to get new drugs to the market. The in vitro Hollow Fibre Infection Model (HFIM) plays a crucial role in this process, helping characterize new drugs and drug combinations and pushing them through clinical trials to approval. Understanding the relationship between exposure to an antimicrobial compound and its impact on the target microbe is key to de-risking and expediting the development of new antimicrobial drugs. This knowledge is typica ..read more

The study explores the impact of an AMR curriculum implemented in a pharmacy college in Kerala, India, on pharmacists’ participation in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) activities. Data was collected through documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews with faculty, clinical pharmacists, and students involved in the curriculum design and implementation. Challenges included lack of human resources, time, limited interactions, and student motivation. The findings suggest that implementing a similar AMR curriculum in other pharmacy colleges could help trai ..read more

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched the Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials on Farms for Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation (RENOFARM) initiative to combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in the food and agriculture sector. The initiative aims to provide countries with policy support, technical assistance, capacity building, and knowledge sharing to reduce the need for antimicrobials in livestock production, prioritizing animal health and welfare, mitigating environmental impact, and enhancing food security and nutrition. The initiative will wo ..read more

Antibiotic-resistant superbugs pose a significant public health threat, and climate change is expected to exacerbate their danger. Rising temperatures, flooding, pollution, and population growth are predicted to increase bacterial resistance to existing drugs. This underscores the need for international efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by developing new medicines and blocking pathogen immunity spread pathways. Climate change will be a significant concern during the UN General Assembly in September, as governments discuss ways to combat AMR. Het bericht Climate change risks fuel ..read more

The study investigated antibiotic use and resistance patterns among patients with suspected first-line antibiotic treatment failure at Rumphi District Hospital, Malawi. A total of 85 patients’ data records were reviewed, with Metronidazole (23%), Gentamycin (20%), and Doxycycline (23%) as the most frequently used antibiotics. Chloramphenicol (61%), ciprofloxacin (55%), and ceftriaxone (54%) were among the antibiotics with over 50% sensitivity. Penicillins were among the antibiotics with highest resistance. The study highlights the need to revamp diagnostic microbiology to increase the uptake o ..read more

The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that the overuse of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated the “silent” spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The study found that 75% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients had bacterial co-infections requiring antibiotics, with the highest rate observed among severe or critical cases. The study found that ‘Watch’ antibiotics with higher resistance potential were most frequently prescribed globally. The findings call for improvements in the rational use of antibiotics to minimize unnecessary negative consequences for patie ..read more