The silent pandemic and the antibacterial resistance of our times

Abstract

Since the massive use of antibacterial drugs in human medicine to treat infectious diseases caused by bacterial pathogens began in the 1940s, the emergence and spread of resistance to these drugs has steadily increased, becoming a global concern. Since then, the inappropriate and indiscriminate use of these drugs in human medicine, veterinary medicine, animal welfare and the agri-food industry has exacerbated the problem, and they have also reached the environment. The accumulation of a significant number of resistance genes in the genomes of certain pathogens has given rise to what is now called the “silent pandemic”, for which these pathogens are largely responsible. This review explores the current situation, the mechanisms underlying antibacterial resistance, its origins and the pathways through which current bacterial pathogens have acquired these resistances. In addition, the actions being carried out within the framework of the “One Health” approach are also highlighted, emphasizing the importance of a multilateral strategy to address this crisis. Finally, it examines how citizens and primary and secondary schools can actively contribute to combating the silent pandemic.