Global Review Warns of “Slow-Moving Pandemic” as Antibiotics Fail

Global Review Warns of “Slow-Moving Pandemic” as Antibiotics Fail
———————-
A comprehensive global review published in the Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital warns that the era of dependable antibiotics is fracturing, Earth.com reported. Researchers from Jilin University describe antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a “slow-moving pandemic” shaped by human behavior, healthcare policy, and environmental factors. While Northern Europe maintains low resistance through strict prescribing, parts of Asia and the Americas report dangerous surges in pathogens like E. coli and Acinetobacter baumannii, where resistance rates for “last-line” drugs now frequently exceed 70%.

The study highlights that AMR is fundamentally a “One Health” crisis, inextricably linking human medicine, livestock health, and ecology. Microbes utilize sophisticated mechanisms, such as efflux pumps and neutralizing enzymes, to bypass modern medicines. These resistance genes travel globally through wastewater, livestock, and international travel. Furthermore, fungi like Candida auris are becoming increasingly multidrug-resistant, partly due to the widespread use of agricultural fungicides that mirror medical treatments.

To counter this tide, the review advocates for a transition toward precision medicine supported by rapid genomic diagnostics and AI-assisted decision tools. Lead author Xuesong Xu emphasizes that a unified global strategy is essential to prevent routine infections from returning to their pre-medicine fatality rates. By optimizing drug usage and strengthening surveillance across both hospitals and farms, the medical community aims to rebuild the safety net that modern surgery and cancer care rely upon.