World Health Organization warns of hospital germs
Published: Friday, May 17th 2024, 12:00
Updated At: Friday, May 17th 2024, 12:11
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Bacteria that survive the use of antibiotics are spreading and claiming more and more lives. The WHO warns that more urgently needs to be invested in the development of new active substances.
Experts are concerned about the increasing resistance of pathogens to antibiotics. The World Health Organization (WHO) has now updated its list of the most dangerous bacteria against which existing drugs often fail. On Friday in Geneva, it called for more urgent investment in the development of new antibiotics in order to stop the further spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). According to the WHO, AMR contributes to around five million deaths worldwide every year. Pathogens that spread in hospitals are particularly dangerous.
AMR occurs when microorganisms are not killed by an antimicrobial agent as intended. Every time antibiotics are used, resistant bacteria can survive and continue to spread. Resistance mainly develops where antibiotics are used frequently.
At the top of the priority list, as on the 2017 list, is the bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii. It poses a particular threat to immunocompromised patients in hospital. In addition to pneumonia, it can cause wound and soft tissue infections, urinary tract infections, sepsis and meningitis. Certain enterobacteria, which also often occur in hospitals and can cause similar infections, are also a top priority for research. New in the highest category is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the main pathogen causing tuberculosis.
Nine new antibiotics have come onto the market since 2017, said WHO AMR specialist Hatim Sati. However, these are often modifications of existing drugs to which bacteria quickly become resistant again. Few are also effective against multi-resistant bacteria that are insensitive to various drugs.
The dilemma is that products against multi-resistant bacteria are only used as a last resort. The market is therefore relatively small and the incentive for pharmaceutical companies to develop them is low. A second problem is the price of new drugs. They are often not available in low- and middle-income countries. However, the resistance problem is particularly severe there.
According to the WHO, the situation with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, also a hospital germ, is somewhat more relaxed. According to the latest reports, resistance to it has decreased somewhat. In total, the list includes 15 pathogens for which new agents are needed.
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