How to Slow The Spread of Deadly 'Superbugs'
Published:01 Nov.2023 Source:University of Technology Sydney
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to the medicines and chemicals we use to kill them. These 'superbugs' make infections harder to treat and increase the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
Without significant intervention, global annual deaths involving antimicrobial resistance are estimated to reach 10 million by 2050, with low and middle-income countries bearing the highest burden.
The new study, Genomic surveillance for antimicrobial resistance -- a One Health perspective, published in Nature Reviews Genetics, highlights the need for a multifaceted 'One Health' approach to the surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in the environment.
The research was led by Distinguished Professor Steven Djordjevic from the Australian Institute for Microbiology and Infection at the University of Technology Sydney, together with researchers from the University of Melbourne and the University of South Australia.