WHO updates list of priority pathogens amid rising antimicrobial resistance

The WHO has a list called the Bacterial Priority Pathogens List (BPPL) for 2024. This list sorts risks into critical, high, and medium categories. Health authorities and researchers use this list to develop new treatments to stop antimicrobial resistance (AMR) from spreading. The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials mainly drive the need for this list. The new BPPL combines the latest evidence and expert opinions to guide research and development (R&D) towards finding new antibiotics and boost international efforts for innovation. Critical priority pathogens are very dangerous. They include gram-negative bacteria resistant to last-resort antibiotics and Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to rifampicin. These pathogens are a big threat globally because they are hard to treat and can spread resistance to other bacteria. High-priority pathogens like Salmonella and Shigella are a big problem in low- and middle-income countries. Other high-priority pathogens, such as antibiotic-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Enterococcus faecium, are challenging because they cause persistent infections and are resistant to many antibiotics. Medium-priority pathogens like Group A and B Streptococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae also cause a lot of disease. The BPPL 2024 highlights the need for a comprehensive public health approach to tackle AMR. This includes making sure everyone can get good and affordable ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat infections. The list shows that third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales are a big problem and need focused interventions, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) moving from critical to high priority in BPPL 2024 shows that global resistance is decreasing. The EU’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) has welcomed the updated WHO Bacterial Priority Pathogens List. This guide helps direct research investment in antimicrobial resistance. The 2024 WHO BPPL categorizes antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens into critical, high, and medium-priority groups. The list covers 24 pathogens from 15 different families of AMR. It includes antimicrobial-resistant tuberculosis, salmonella, and gonorrhea. The list is important for public health workers to warn about the risks of different diseases and how to treat and prevent them.