World Health Organisation's Bacterial Pathogen Priority List (BPPL) 2017 and BPPL 2024 to combat global antimicrobial...

Antibiotic resistance, in a broader perspective, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a formidable global health challenge, threatening the effectiveness of antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents. As a result, AMR has become more challenging or even impossible to treat, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been at the forefront of international efforts to combat AMR by sensitizing the world about the pressing need to tackle AMR to save the future of the human race. This article analyses WHO's efforts to combat AMR, including creating the Bacterial Pathogen Priority List (BPPL), developing a global action plan to address AMR and promoting surveillance and stewardship programmes. This article also examines the progress achieved by BPPL 2017 and the challenges ahead for BPPL 2024. Additionally, this article explores various efforts to combat AMR through two major approaches, like 'research and development' and 'the policy and regulation-based' approach. This article underscores various emerging strategies to tackle AMR, for example, biofilm disruption, nanotechnology, antibiotic resistance breakers, antibody-antibiotic conjugates, rapid detection tools and alternative therapies like phage therapy, antimicrobial peptides, CRISPR-Cas system, probiotics and microbiota modulations. This article also highlights the importance of coordinated actions and sustained commitment to safeguarding public health and ensuring the continued effectiveness of antimicrobial therapies.