Geneva, May 17, 2024 – The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled its updated list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria after a hiatus of seven years. This release aims to offer guidance on the development of new treatments crucial for combating the escalating spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Understanding Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
AMR infections, primarily fueled by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials, render bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites unresponsive to medications. This phenomenon severely hampers the treatment of prevalent infections like tuberculosis, resulting in severe illness and heightened mortality rates.
Bacterial Priority Pathogens List (BPPL) 2024
The BPPL 2024 comprises 15 families of antibiotic-resistant bacteria categorized into critical, high, and medium priority groups. Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Antimicrobial Resistance ad interim, emphasized the significance of the updated list in guiding investments and addressing the antibiotics pipeline and access crisis.
Dr. Yukiko noted that the threat of antimicrobial resistance has escalated over the years, jeopardizing the effectiveness of numerous antibiotics and endangering the progress of modern medicine.
Updates in BPPL 2024
The latest list includes the removal of five pathogen-antibiotic combinations featured in 2017 and the addition of four new combinations. Notably, third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales now stand as a separate item in the critical priority category, while Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) infection has been elevated from critical to high priority.
Continued Global Threats
Critical priority pathogens, including gram-negative bacteria resistant to last-resort antibiotics and Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to rifampicin, persist as significant global threats. These pathogens pose substantial burdens, exhibit resistance to treatment, and have the potential to spread resistance to other bacteria.
Comprehensive Approach to Addressing AMR
The BPPL 2024 underscores the necessity for a comprehensive public health strategy to combat AMR. This includes ensuring universal access to quality and affordable measures for prevention, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment of infections.
The WHO’s release of the updated list marks a critical step in the ongoing battle against antimicrobial resistance, aiming to steer global efforts towards developing effective treatments and preserving the efficacy of existing antibiotics.
