Antimicrobial resistant bacterium (AMR bacterium) (AMR bacterium)

Antimicrobial resistant bacteria are bacterial strains that have developed the ability to survive and grow despite the presence of antibiotic agents intended to eliminate them (CDC, 2022). This resistance arises through various evolutionary processes, including spontaneous genetic mutations and the acquisition of resistance genes via horizontal gene transfer from other organisms (WHO, 2023). These bacteria represent a critical challenge in modern medicine, as they complicate the treatment of common infections and increase the risk of severe outcomes such as sepsis and death (NIH, 2021). Mechanistically, these organisms employ strategies such as the production of beta-lactamases to degrade drugs, the alteration of penicillin-binding proteins to prevent drug binding, and the upregulation of efflux pumps to remove toxic substances from the cell (StatPearls, 2023). Therapeutic intervention often requires the use of last-resort antibiotics, which may carry higher risks of toxicity or reduced efficacy compared to traditional first-line agents (PubMed, 2020). The management of these pathogens involves not only the development of new chemical entities but also the implementation of diagnostic tools to identify specific resistance markers (Nature, 2022). Furthermore, the persistence of these bacteria in clinical environments necessitates stringent infection control measures and antibiotic stewardship programs to limit their spread (The Lancet, 2022).

Other names

SuperbugsDrug-resistant bacteriaMultidrug-resistant bacteriaMDR bacteriaExtensively drug-resistant bacteriaXDR bacteriaPan-drug-resistant bacteriaPDR bacteria

Drugs targeting these bacteria typically function by inhibiting cell wall synthesis, disrupting protein synthesis at the 30S or 50S ribosomal subunits, interfering with DNA replication and RNA transcription, or disrupting cell membrane integrity (NIH, 2021; StatPearls, 2023).