Antimicrobial Armageddon: The Professional Guide to Conquering Antibiotic Resistance
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Researchers |
Alissar AlJerf, Abdullah H. Maad, Prince O. Ukaogo, Loai Aljerf, Atem Bethel Ajong and Muaaz Alajlani |
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Published in |
Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins, online first article, February 2026. |
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Abstract |
Antibiotic resistance has accelerated into a critical global health emergency, undermining the effectiveness of modern medicine and increasing the burden of severe, persistent, and difficult-to-treat infections. This review synthesizes current evidence on the biological, clinical, and public health dimensions of resistance and highlights the major drivers behind its rapid expansion. Recent epidemiological data reveal substantial increases in mortality associated with resistant bloodstream, respiratory, and intra-abdominal infections, emphasizing the urgency of coordinated intervention. Mechanistic analyses demonstrate how horizontal gene transfer (HGT), mutational adaptation, biofilm formation, efflux systems, and enzymatic drug modification collectively strengthen bacterial survival. In parallel, persistent and tolerant cell populations further complicate therapeutic outcomes by enabling recurrent and chronic infections. Despite these challenges, several promising countermeasures have emerged. Advances in antimicrobial stewardship, drug repurposing, bacteriophage-based strategies, immunotherapies, and nanotechnology offer new avenues to restore or enhance antimicrobial efficacy. Innovative approaches—such as targeting novel metabolic pathways, disrupting virulence networks, and employing engineered phage systems—represent a growing frontier in drug development. Collectively, these insights highlight the importance of integrating molecular innovation, optimized clinical practices, and global surveillance as complementary strategies to mitigate the progression of antimicrobial resistance. Finally, this review acknowledges limitations related to the focus on bacterial pathogens, while recognizing that antifungal and antiviral resistance present parallel, distinct challenges in global health. Key Words: Drug resistance, Anti-infective agent, Multidrug resistance, Bacteriophage, Public health, Bacterial infection. |
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Link to abstract |
