Drug resistance

Acinetobacter

Antibiotics

Bacteria

Biology

Microbiology

Intensive care medicine

Acinetobacter baumannii

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Enterococcus faecium

Staphylococcus aureus

Genetics

Medicine

Antibiotic resistance

Biologia

Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest worldwide challenges to modern medicine, and society at large, and one of the least appreciated by practitioners and the lay community. Many strains of multi-drug resistant bacteria such as methicillin and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis continue to plague both developed and underdeveloped countries alike. Collectively over 700,000 deaths occur annually as a consequence of infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Presently, many scientists and clinicians seek to find solutions to this ever-growing crisis. Today, the most common causes of hospital-acquired and multi-drug resistant infections are the ESKAPE group of bacteria (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.), six genera and species with a host of mechanisms to survive against even extremely potent antibiotics. Limited research currently focuses on discovering or developing novel compounds that will hopefully turn the tide and tackle the problem of resistance, but significant changes in healthcare and consumer practices will be necessary as well, to successfully address this dilemma. This review provides a status report on a rather silent global crisis.

Antibiotic resistance crisis: challenges and imperatives