Artificial intelligence in Combating Antimicrobial Resistance

Natto Hatim A1, Mahmood Ammar Abdul Razzak2, T Sriram3

  • 1Department of Public Health, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

PubMed

Insights

Artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates the discovery of new antibiotics to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing global health threat. AI offers a faster, more efficient approach to developing novel treatments against drug-resistant bacteria.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Computational Biology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global health issue, often termed the "Silent Pandemic."
  • Conventional antibiotic development is slow and costly, hindering progress against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria.
  • Failure to address AMR could lead to it becoming the leading cause of mortality worldwide.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the effective applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in combating AMR.
  • To highlight the potential benefits of AI in accelerating the development of novel antibiotics and treatments.
  • To provide an overview of AI concepts, resources, uses, scope, benefits, and limitations in the context of AMR.

Main Methods:

  • Review of AI applications in identifying AMR markers.
  • Analysis of AI's role in diagnosing AMR and developing small-molecule antibiotics.
  • Exploration of AI in emerging research domains like AMR detection and novel drug development.

Main Results:

  • AI systems can rapidly screen chemical libraries to identify potential antibacterial agents.
  • AI algorithms analyze antibiotic usage, disease occurrences, and resistance trends to inform AMR strategies.
  • AI shows promise in accelerating the development of new antibiotics and supplementary treatments for MDR infections.

Conclusions:

  • AI offers a powerful and efficient tool to accelerate the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
  • The integration of AI in medical research is crucial for developing novel antibiotics and managing AMR.
  • AI applications are vital for maintaining an advantage against emerging threats posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

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