Global travel and Gram-negative bacterial resistance; implications on clinical management

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AR) is a significant global health threat.
• Carbapenem-resistant (CR) Gram-negative pathogens, including Enterobacterales, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, pose an international crisis.
• These resistant pathogens lead to treatment challenges, poor outcomes, increased mortality, and high economic costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review key carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative species.
• To examine global and regional trends in AR, surveillance, and reporting.
• To identify drivers of AR dissemination, with a focus on international travel.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted using major academic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Ebsco, ProQuest).
• The search covered the period from 2000 to December 2019.
• The review synthesizes findings on CR pathogens, trends, surveillance, travel-related dissemination, and clinical implications.

Main Results:

• Global travel is a significant driver for the dissemination of AR.
• Healthcare providers must incorporate patient travel history into AR risk assessments.
• Effective AR management requires patient education, provider awareness, and robust surveillance data.

Conclusions:

• The increasing level of global travel necessitates a re-evaluation of strategies to combat the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
• Integrating travel history into clinical practice is crucial for informed antimicrobial selection and improved patient outcomes.
• Enhanced surveillance and data accessibility are vital for global AR control efforts.