The Growing Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance

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In September 2024, 193 delegations gathered during the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to withstand the effects of treatments, such as antibiotics. This makes common infections more difficult to treat, potentially reversing decades of medical advancements. The UN emphasized that without immediate action, AMR could cause millions of additional deaths each year, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries. The high-level meeting on AMR called for coordinated global efforts to reduce the projected 10 million annual deaths by 2050 due to drug-resistant infections.

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Nancy Hu’s Case Study on C. Auris Outbreak, Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn, New York, experienced an outbreak of Candida auris (C. auris)—a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen—in 2019. The fungus targets those with weakened immune systems, making it particularly deadly to those with comorbidities. C. auris infections can be difficult to treat, causing severe public health challenges globally.

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Sarah Crisci’s Case Study on Candida auras in New York

Candida auras (C. auris) is a drug-resistant fungus with a dangerously high mortality rate. Most C. auris cases are resistant to one antifungal drug at minimum. However, chronic cases include strains which are resistant to all three antifungal drugs used to treat the fungus. Cases of C. auris typically arise in healthcare facilities, due to prolonged isolation periods following exposure.

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WHO Outlines Global Strategies to Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance Threat to Public Health

AMR is a leading cause in global fatalities from infectious diseases such as malaria and HIV. An international team of researchers studied what is known as “the most comprehensive assessment yet” for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans.

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Antibiotic Resistance: Iraq’s Silent Post-War Enemy

Antibiotic resistance is regarded as a “silent tsunami”, as described by Emad Ahmad, a member of the Mosul General Hospital in Iraq. The hospital’s recent antibiograms (tables showing antimicrobial susceptibility) have presented evidence of increasing antibiotic resistance for an array of bacterial infections.

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