WHO Updates List of Bacterial Pathogens Threatening Human Health: Key Changes and Additions in 2024
The World Health Organization (WHO) has just released an updated list of the bacterial pathogens that pose the biggest threat to human health. This list, known as the Bacterial Priority Pathogens List (BPPL), is crucial for guiding research and development efforts in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and prioritizing investments in this critical area.
The updated list, which covers 24 pathogens and 15 “drug-bug” combinations, focuses on those bacterial phenotypes that result in the highest health burden and for which there is the greatest unmet need. The changes in the list reflect a more comprehensive understanding of the evolution and burden of drug-resistant bacterial pathogens, as well as better surveillance data.
Among the critical priority pathogens are gram-negative bacterial pathogens like carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), which include Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. New additions to this group include third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (3GCRE) and rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB), highlighting the increasing challenges in treating these infections.
In the high-priority pathogen group, fluoroquinolone-resistant Shigella has been added, reflecting a shift in antimicrobial resistance trends. Community pathogens like fluoroquinolone-resistant Salmonella Typhi and non-typhoidal Salmonella have also been given a higher ranking in the updated list, emphasizing the growing concern about these pathogens and their resistance to antibiotics.
The WHO notes that the emergence of resistance in these organisms poses significant challenges to effective treatment and control of infections, especially in vulnerable populations and low- and middle-income countries. The removal of certain pathogens from the list, based on evidence and expert consensus, highlights the dynamic nature of the AMR landscape and the need for ongoing surveillance, research, and targeted interventions.
Overall, the updated BPPL provides crucial guidance for addressing the global threat of antimicrobial resistance and underscores the importance of continued efforts to combat drug-resistant bacterial pathogens.