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Editorial: Innovation in tackling the global challenge of eradicating antibiotic-resistant microorganisms

Summary

Antibiotic resistance is a serious global health problem causing millions of deaths annually. Scientists are developing new approaches to fight resistant bacteria, including using bacteriophages (viruses that attack bacteria), improving detection methods, and testing plant-based compounds. This editorial discusses 15 research papers showing various innovative strategies, emphasizing that we need multiple tools working together rather than relying on any single solution to solve this complex problem.

Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global public health threat, with an estimated 1.27 million deaths directly attributable to bacterial AMR and 4.95 million AMR-associated deaths in 2019. The burden is heaviest in low-resource settings due to gaps in prevention, diagnostics, and access to effective therapy. Only 12 new antibacterial drugs were approved between 2017 and 2021, mostly belonging to existing classes where resistance mechanisms are already established.

Objective

This editorial presents a research topic comprising 15 papers reflecting innovation in combating antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. The goal is to showcase a portfolio of complementary approaches spanning bacteriophage therapeutics, genomic epidemiology, One Health perspectives, and stewardship implementation across various clinical and environmental settings.

Results

The 15 papers demonstrate that bacteriophages show promise but face challenges in biofilm settings, genomic surveillance can track resistance determinants across healthcare environments, agricultural practices shape environmental resistomes, stewardship programs must adapt to external disruptions, and multiple novel therapeutic targets and repurposed compounds show potential against resistant pathogens.

Conclusion

Durable progress against AMR will require integration of new therapeutics with improved diagnostics, faster genomic surveillance, and stewardship programs resilient to real-world pressures. No single solution exists; instead, a combination of complementary tools validated under real-world constraints is necessary to transition promising innovations into agents with sustained impact.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Editorial/Review,
  • Source: PMID: 41602753, DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1774105
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