Global Rise in Antimicrobial Resistance Threatens Healthcare and Food Supply

Scientists are developing antibiotic adjuvants that restore the effectiveness of existing drugs. Using a diversity‑oriented‑clicking (DOC) method, researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have created a library of more than 150 compounds aimed at combating resistant bacteria.

Hospitals worldwide are reporting rapid spread of drug‑resistant infections in intensive‑care units. Pathogens such as carbapenem‑resistant Enterobacteriaceae and multidrug‑resistant Acinetobacter baumannii are increasing treatment difficulty, prompting stricter infection‑control protocols and antimicrobial‑stewardship programs.

A systematic review of 749 prevalence surveys from Asian aquaculture between 2000‑2019 found that 33% of farmed aquatic animals carry multi‑drug‑resistant bacteria. Hotspots include central and eastern China, parts of India, and Indonesia, highlighting the potential for resistant bacteria to move from food animals to humans.