Antimicrobial drug discovery may sound like something out of a Sci-Fi movie, but in reality, it is quite simple. Antimicrobial drug discovery is the science of identifying, developing, and testing compounds that have the ability to inhibit or kill microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites in order to find new drugs or improve existing ones to combat infectious diseases caused by these microorganisms.
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms learn to withstand the effects of medications meant to eradicate them. This indicates that the bacteria are not destroyed and can proliferate. Treatment for resistant infections can be challenging and sometimes unattainable. Antimicrobial resistance poses an immediate threat to public health around the world, accounting for at least 1.27 million deaths globally and approximately 5 million fatalities in 2019. Every year, around 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant illnesses happen in the United States. The 2019 Antibiotic Resistance (AR) Threats Report from the CDC states that over 35,000 individuals pass away as a result. Including Clostridium difficile, a non-resistant bacterium that can cause fatal diarrhea and is linked to the use of antibiotics, the combined U.S. toll from all the risks in the report surpasses 3 million infections and 48,000 fatalities.
People at any stage of life, as well as the veterinary, agricultural, and healthcare sectors, may be impacted by antibiotic resistance. As such, it ranks among the most urgent issues in the world. To be hazardous, bacteria and fungi do not necessarily need to be resistant to all antibiotics or antifungals. Serious issues may arise if an antibiotic is resistant.
The use of second and third-line medicines for antimicrobial-resistant infections can harm patients by producing major adverse effects such as organ failure and delaying therapy and recovery for several months.
The capacity to treat infections with antibiotics is essential for many medical advancements, such as organ transplants, joint replacements, cancer treatment, and the management of chronic illnesses including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and asthma.
There may be no known cure for certain illnesses in certain situations, but here are three methods that may improve the antimicrobial drug discovery process:
Better Antibiotic Stewardship: By encouraging the responsible use of antibiotics and lowering the selective pressure on bacteria to evolve resistance, this approach tackles the underlying cause of antimicrobial resistance. It’s an economical strategy that can be used in veterinary medicine, agriculture, and healthcare, among other fields.
Combination Therapies: Mixing several medications or modes of treatment together can enhance patient results and postpone the development of resistance. Because it targets numerous pathways at once, this technique is particularly successful in fighting infections produced by organisms that are resistant to drugs.
Enhanced Surveillance: In order to inform interventions and policy choices, surveillance systems that track patterns of antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial usage must be strengthened. Through the use of surveillance data, new resistance patterns can be identified, allowing for the proactive containment of resistant microorganisms and the maintenance of the efficacy of currently available medicines.
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