Drug-resistant bacteria: "Sleeping giant" of all health crises?

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses an imminent and severe threat to global public health, with potential catastrophic increases in infection-related deaths, according to a new study led by the US Northern Arizona University (NAU). The findings hope to serve as a wake-up call, urging immediate and sustained efforts to safeguard the effectiveness of antibiotics—a cornerstone of modern medicine.

The study’s lead author, Benjamin Koch, a senior research scientist at NAU’s Center for Ecosystem Science and Society (Ecoss), highlighted the gravity of the problem. “Multidrug-resistance is bad, but once a pathogen gains resistance to all known antibiotics, known as pan-resistance, a dramatically rapid shift, rather than a gradual rise in public health impacts, can be expected,” Koch explained. An article by the Medical Xpress publication that shared the findings of the study reported, that the consequences could be far worse than current preparations anticipate.

Koch was joined in this research by Ecoss director Bruce Hungate, along with collaborators from the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University and the University of Minnesota. The researchers created models to examine the potential impact of a hypothetical pan-resistant strain of E. coli on sepsis deaths in the United States. Using historical data on infection rates, mortality, and treatment outcomes, they projected alarming results. Depending on the scenario, sepsis deaths could increase by 18 to 46 times within five years of such a strain’s emergence.

Although no pan-resistant strain of E. coli currently exists, the accelerating evolution of bacterial resistance suggests it is only a matter of time. “With the available data, we aren’t able to predict the timing of pan-resistance with any accuracy; it could be in a year, or it could be in a century,” Koch noted. However, the study underscores the importance of preparing for the worst-case scenario to mitigate its devastating potential impacts.

Antibiotic resistance does not discriminate. Unlike many health crises, which disproportionately affect lower-income nations due to limited access to advanced medical care, pan-resistant bacteria can affect all layers of society, disregarding age or gender. They would eliminate the effectiveness of even the most sophisticated antibiotics. This erasure of medical advantages means populations worldwide, including in high-income countries, would face increased risks of death from previously treatable infections.

Prevention rather than Intervention

While the outlook is grim, the researchers emphasize that proactive measures can reduce the risk and slow the progression of antibiotic resistance. Governments, industries, and individuals all have roles to play in combating this threat before the situation spirals out of control.

Governments must strengthen regulations to ensure the responsible use of existing antibiotics in healthcare and food-animal production. Incentives for developing new antibiotics are also critical, as the pipeline for new treatments has slowed significantly in recent years. Additionally, investment in technologies that track and monitor the spread of antibiotic resistance could provide early warnings and valuable data for interventions.

On a personal level, people can contribute by using antibiotics only when prescribed by a healthcare professional and completing the full course of treatment. Supporting policies that promote antibiotic stewardship and the development of new treatments is equally important.

“We must reduce the forces that currently promote the evolution and dissemination of antibiotic-resistant pathogens,” the authors stressed. “Globally, this means improving antibiotic stewardship in human and veterinary medicine and in food-animal production.”

By Nazrin Sadigova