ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR) is a burning issue for all health care professional worldwide . With uprise in antimicrobial resistance ,it is hard to treat and cure , which is threatening to many achievements of modern medicine. The updated list of Bacterial Priority Pathogens list (BPPL) by WHO for the first time in 7years (last in 2017).
The list is divided into three criteria , according to level of threat as critical , high and medium.
The WHO BPPL 2024 includes the following bacteria:
Critical priority:
Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem-resistant;
Enterobacterales, third-generation cephalosporin-resistant; and
Enterobacterales, carbapenem-resistant;
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, rifampicin-resistant (included after an independent analysis with parallel tailored criteria, and subsequent application of an adapted multi-criteria decision analysis matrix).
This ongoing increase in the antibiotic resistance call for immediate attention. This list varies according different geography and region . There is a need for more regional studies ,so that more region specific AMR burden can be understood .
Do you think region specific studies on AMR burden is a necessity now?
Yes, region-specific studies on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) burden are absolutely a necessity now.
While the WHO Bacterial Priority Pathogens List (BPPL) provides a vital global framework, AMR patterns are highly heterogenous and deeply influenced by local factors like antibiotic prescribing practices, sanitation and water quality, agricultural use of antimicrobials, and specific patient populations. A global list, even updated, cannot capture the local prevalence of resistance mechanisms (e.g., specific genes or mutations) that dominate in different regions. Conducting localized studies allows healthcare systems to accurately tailor empiric treatment guidelines, forecast regional antibiotic needs, and implement targeted infection control measures that are most relevant and cost-effective for their specific populations, ultimately halting the spread of region-dominant resistant strains.
Region-specific studies on AMR are needed to understand local patterns of resistance. They provide data for doctors to make better treatment decisions. Early identification of resistant strains is possible through such studies. They also help design targeted public health measures to reduce AMR.
“The WHO priority list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria serves as a global alarm, reminding us of the urgent need for new antimicrobials and robust stewardship practices. These pathogens—such as carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae—pose a serious threat to healthcare systems worldwide. Addressing them requires a united effort in research, infection prevention, and rational antibiotic use to safeguard the future of modern medicine.”