WHO Releases Updated Bacterial Priority Pathogens List 2024 to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance

The World Health Organization (WHO) has just released its updated Bacterial Priority Pathogens List (BPPL) for 2024, highlighting the urgent need for new treatments to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The list categorizes 15 families of bacteria into critical, high, and medium priority groups, based on their resistance to antibiotics and the threat they pose to public health.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria no longer respond to medicines, leading to increased illness and deaths. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics are major contributors to this global health crisis. The updated BPPL aims to guide research and development efforts for new antibiotics and promote international collaboration to address AMR effectively.

Critical priority pathogens on the list include gram-negative bacteria resistant to last-resort antibiotics and Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to rifampicin. These bacteria are particularly concerning due to their high burden, ability to resist treatment, and potential to spread resistance to other bacteria. High priority pathogens such as Salmonella, Shigella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus pose significant challenges in healthcare settings, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

The BPPL 2024 also emphasizes the need for a comprehensive public health approach to address AMR, including universal access to quality and affordable measures for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infections. The list saw changes from the 2017 version, with the addition of new pathogen-antibiotic combinations and the removal of others to reflect the evolving nature of AMR.

Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Antimicrobial Resistance, stressed the importance of the updated list in guiding investments and efforts to combat the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. The BPPL serves as a crucial tool in addressing AMR and safeguarding the gains of modern medicine for future generations.