Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance: Surveillance and Prevention
The emergence of pathogenic bacteria that cannot be effectively treated with existing antimicrobials has been prioritised by the World Health Organization as one of the top ten global public health threats facing humanity. The burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is disproportionately observed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa. Without intervention, it has been estimated that global deaths attributable to AMR could reach 10 million annually by 2050.
The PLOS Medicine editors, together with guest editors Timothy Walsh, Ramanan Laxminarayan and Ana Cristina Gales, present a Special Issue dedicated to bacterial AMR. This collection of high-quality research articles defines the problem from a One Health perspective highlighting the multi-faceted challenges imposed by drug-resistant bacteria, the vast number of contributing factors, the consequences for health and economics, and interventions that could lessen the burden.