article · Health Science Reports
This review addresses the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), projected to cause 10 million annual deaths by 2050. It analyses molecular and ecological resistance mechanisms and evaluates global containment efforts. A systematic literature review of 152 articles from 2000-2024 identified three dominant resistance pathways: target site modification, enzymatic degradation, and horizontal gene transfer. Findings show rising resistance to last-resort antibiotics in pathogens like Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii, with treatment failure rates exceeding 50% in some regions. Surveillance gaps, unregulated antibiotic use, especially in lower- and middle-income countries, and an innovation gap in new antibiotic development accelerate resistance. The conclusion stresses the urgent need for coordinated action, including antimicrobial stewardship, R&D incentives, integrated surveillance, and global policy reforms, to prevent AMR from surpassing cancer in mortality.
Antimicrobial resistance poses a severe and escalating threat to global health, potentially undermining modern medicine and causing millions of deaths annually. Understanding its mechanisms and implementing coordinated mitigation strategies are crucial to preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics and preventing a major public health catastrophe.
The abstract highlights an innovation gap in antibiotic development and calls for incentivising R&D, suggesting opportunities for pharmaceutical companies to develop new antimicrobial therapies. It also points to the need for integrated environmental and clinical surveillance, indicating a market for advanced diagnostic tools, data management systems, and public health technologies. This work is foundational, indicating a need for early-stage research and development to address these challenges.
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ABSTRACT Background and Aims Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is projected to cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050 if left unaddressed, posing a severe threat to global health and modern medicine. This review analyzes the molecular and ecological mechanisms underlying antibiotic resistance and evaluates global efforts aimed at containment to identify actionable strategies to mitigate AMR's escalating impact. Methods A systematic literature review was performed using databases including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, focusing on peer‐reviewed studies from 2000 to 2024. Search terms included “antibiotic resistance,” “resistance mechanisms,” “horizontal gene transfer,” and “AMR epidemiology.” A total of 152 articles were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria relevant to resistance mechanisms, epidemiological data, clinical outcomes, and public health interventions. Results Findings underscore three dominant resistance pathways: target site modification, enzymatic degradation (e.g., β‐lactamases), and horizontal gene transfer via plasmids and transposons. Notably, resistance to last‐resort antibiotics (e.g., colistin, carbapenems) is rising in pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii , with treatment failure rates exceeding 50% in some regions. Surveillance gaps and unregulated antibiotic use, especially in LMICs, further accelerate resistance spread. Only a limited number of new antibiotic classes have been approved since 2010, underscoring the innovation gap. Conclusion AMR is a quantifiable, escalating crisis that undermines decades of progress in infectious disease control. Tackling it requires coordinated action: strengthening antimicrobial stewardship, incentivizing antibiotic R&D, integrating environmental and clinical surveillance under One Health frameworks, and implementing global policy reforms. Without prompt action, AMR could surpass cancer in annual mortality by mid‐century.
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DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.71077
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