Antimicrobial resistance threatens modern medicine, experts warn

Antimicrobial resistance is described as a ‘silent pandemic’ that threatens to undermine major achievements in modern medicine. At the Antimicrobial Resistance Symposium in Seoul, Rino Rappuoli, scientific director of the Fondazione Biotecnopolo di Siena, warned that bacteria are evolving to resist existing drugs, making essential treatments less effective.

Rappuoli emphasized that addressing this crisis requires more than just developing new antibiotics. He called for increased investment in scientific research and prevention, noting that reducing infections through vaccines and monoclonal antibodies can decrease the need for antibiotics and slow the development of resistance. A comprehensive response must integrate new drugs, rapid diagnostics, and improved surveillance to monitor how resistance evolves.