Current State of Knowledge Regarding WHO Critical Priority Pathogens: Mechanisms of Resistance and Proposed Solutions through Candidates Such as Essential Oils

Abstract

The rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens has become a global health threat and an economic burden in providing adequate and effective treatment for many infections. This large-scale concern has emerged mainly due to mishandling of antibiotics (ABs) and has resulted in the rapid expansion of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Nowadays, there is an urgent need for more potent, non-toxic and effective antimicrobial agents against MDR strains. In this regard, clinicians, pharmacists, microbiologists and the entire scientific community are encouraged to find alternative solutions in treating infectious diseases cause by these strains. In its “10 global issues to track in 2021”, the World Health Organization (WHO) has made fighting drug resistance a priority. It has also issued a list of bacteria that are in urgent need for new ABs. Despite all available resources, researchers are unable to keep the pace of finding novel ABs in the face of emerging MDR strains. Traditional methods are increasingly becoming ineffective, so new approaches need to be considered. In this regard, the general tendency of turning towards natural alternatives has reinforced the interest in essential oils (EOs) as potent antimicrobial agents. Our present article aims to first review the main pathogens classified by WHO as critical in terms of current AMR. The next objective is to summarize the most important and up-to-date aspects of resistance mechanisms to classical antibiotic therapy and to compare them with the latest findings regarding the efficacy of alternative essential oil therapy.

Real-Life Assessment of the Ability of an Ultraviolet C Lamp (SanificaAria 200, Beghelli) to Inactivate Airborne Microorganisms in a Healthcare Environment

“…and possible spore-forming bacteria (e.g., Bacillus spp.) [ 24 , 25 ]. In addition, regarding the viral component, a total abolishment of SARS-CoV-2 detection was obtained in just one hour.…”

Current State of Knowledge Regarding WHO High Priority Pathogens—Resistance Mechanisms and Proposed Solutions through Candidates Such as Essential Oils: A Systematic Review

“…Certain EOs are effective against pathogens of public health interest. In a previous review paper, we have presented that several EOs exhibit in vitro antimicrobial activity against the WHO priority 1 list of pathogens [42]. Notably, it is generally considered that EOs are more active against Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria [40].…”

“…The aim of this review was to investigate the current level of knowledge regarding the six WHO HPPs (priority 2 list). This study was designed as a follow-up of a previous paper that addressed WHO critical priority pathogens (priority 1 list) [42]. Each of the six bacteria were discussed in terms of: pathogenesis, mechanism of AMR (with an emphasis on ABs indicated by WHO as increasingly inefficacious) and EOs as potential treatment candidates (with an emphasis on EOs that are effective against resistant strains).…”

Acinetobacter baumannii as an oro-dental pathogen: a red alert!!

“… 1 In 2017, a red alert was raised by the World Health Organization (WHO) on its carbapenem resistance changing its classification as a pathogen under the critical category. 2 A. baumannii is also known for its emergence and evolution as a multi-drug resistant pathogen, as well as its recent escalation as a pan-drug resistant pathogen. 3 Oral microbiome, followed by gut microbiota, encompasses a diverse accumulation of microbial cosmos related to oro-dental diseases various complexes of bacteria attributes for the pathogenesis.…”