Inspiration
Threat of drug-resistant bacteria
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States has seen a staggering 2.8 million cases of drug-resistant infections.[1] Globally, drug-resistant infections have led to 5 million deaths in 2019.[2] Unfortunately, the number of patients with drug-resistant infections continues to rise, and by 2050 drug-resistant bacteria are projected to cause 10 million deaths annually.[3] The Japanese Government released an action plan combating antimicrobial resistance.[4]This highlights the significant impact of drug-resistant infections as a pressing issue, as they could cause the next pandemic.
Drug-resistant bacteria and antibiotics are waging an endless battle
Currently, in the medical field, serious infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria are managed by using antibiotics to eliminate them. However, there are a few pathogenic bacteria known as drug-resistant bacteria that possess mechanisms to resist the effects of antibiotics. Antibiotics kill surrounding bacteria, allowing drug-resistant bacteria to thrive. As a result, new antibiotics are developed to combat these drug-resistant bacteria. While antibiotics such as cefamycin and carbapenem are effective against currently existing drug-resistant bacteria, there is a significant possibility that bacteria resistant to even these valuable antibiotics may emerge in the future.
This endless arms race between bacteria and humankind is the current reality. It is expected that drug-resistant strains will continue to emerge with this approach. It is crucial to explore alternative approaches to combat drug-resistant bacteria instead of relying solely on administering antibiotics. By establishing an environment that enables the rapid and effective development of therapeutic drugs when new drug-resistant bacteria emerge, we can work towards preventing a pandemic caused by drug-resistant bacteria.
