Lab Medicine Landmark-class

Lancet Review: Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Infections Demand Rapid Diagnostic Innovation

This Lancet review covers the growing threat of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, highlighting third-generation cephalosporin-resistant and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii as WHO priority pathogens. The review details emerging rapid AMR detection technologies spanning biochemical, molecular, genomic, and proteomic techniques. The last decade has also seen multiple new antibiotic approvals that have reshaped the treatment landscape for these challenging infections.

The original study

Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections.

Authors
Macesic N, Uhlemann AC, Peleg AY
Journal
Lancet (London, England)
Type
Journal Article, Review, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
PMID
39826970
Read the original study →

Original abstract

Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections cause significant morbidity and mortality globally. These pathogens easily acquire antimicrobial resistance (AMR), further highlighting their clinical significance. Third-generation cephalosporin-resistant and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (eg, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp), multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii are the most problematic and have been identified as priority pathogens. In response, several new diagnostic technologies aimed at rapidly detecting AMR have been developed, including biochemical, molecular, genomic, and proteomic techniques. The last decade has also seen the licensing of multiple antibiotics that have changed the treatment landscape for these challenging infections.