Rita Rubin, Lead Senior Staff Writer for JAMA Medical News, and Kate Schweitzer, Associate Managing Editor, delve into pressing medical issues. They discuss the alarming rise of antimicrobial resistance, spotlighting the UN's focus on global disparities in antibiotic access. The conversation shifts to the XEC COVID variant, its potential to dominate the winter wave, and the importance of vaccination. Together, they highlight critical strategies needed to combat these public health challenges.
Antimicrobial resistance is exacerbated by limited antibiotic access in developing countries, emphasizing the global disparity in healthcare resources.
The emergence of the XEC SARS-CoV-2 variant highlights the need for continued vaccination efforts and monitoring to prevent severe outbreaks.
Deep dives
Global Antimicrobial Resistance Crisis
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a severe threat to global health, with drug-resistant bacterial pathogens causing approximately 4.7 million deaths in 2021. The United Nations held a high-level meeting to address this escalating issue, highlighting that a significant number of deaths result from a lack of access to effective antibiotics, particularly in developing countries. While overprescription is a problem in affluent nations, it is often overshadowed by the dire situation in poorer regions, where access to necessary medications is severely limited. This disparity in the global prescription market leads to heightened resistance rates that can affect populations worldwide, illustrating the interconnectedness of health systems across borders.
One Health Approach to Combat AMR
Experts emphasize a One Health approach, recognizing that human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected in combating AMR. Effective strategies include improved antibiotic stewardship among healthcare providers and responsible use of antibiotics in agriculture, where misuse can lead to resistant bacteria contaminating food supplies. The recent UN meeting reaffirmed commitments to mitigate AMR through ongoing research and development of new antibiotics as well as vaccines to prevent infections. This comprehensive strategy aims for a 10% reduction in AMR-associated deaths by 2030, demanding a collaborative effort among healthcare sectors, policymakers, and researchers.
Emergence of New COVID Variant XEC
The COVID variant XEC has gained prominence, accounting for 28% of circulating variants in the U.S. as of early November, indicating a rise from earlier weeks. This recombinant variant appears to be more infectious and adept at evading existing immune responses than its predecessors, although it is not dramatically different from earlier variants targeted by current vaccines. Laboratory findings suggest that the vaccines remain effective against XEC in preventing severe disease, but vaccination rates remain a concern, particularly among eligible populations. As surveillance for new variants decreases, experts warn that the potential emergence of undiscovered variants could pose ongoing risks, underscoring the importance of continued monitoring and vaccination efforts.
