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‘Priority pathogens’ list underscores urgent need for new antibiotics
Antibiotics
The list is split into three categories according to the urgency of the need for new antibiotics
WHO list designed to guide and promote research

A list of 12 bacteria families that pose the greatest threat to human health has been published by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Designed to guide and promote research of new antibiotics, the “priority pathogens” list forms part of WHO’s effort to address the global spread of antimcrobial resistance.

In particular, the list highlights the threat of gram-negative bacteria that are resistant to many antibiotics. These bacteria have the ability to find new ways to resist treatment and can transfer genetic material to other bacteria, allowing them to also become drug-resistant.

"This list is a new tool to ensure R&D responds to urgent public health needs," says Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO's assistant director-general for health systems and innovation. "Antibiotic resistance is growing, and we are fast running out of treatment options. If we leave it to market forces alone, the new antibiotics we most urgently need are not going to be developed in time.”

The list is split into three categories according to the urgency of the need for new antibiotics: critical, high and medium priority.

The critical group contains multi-drug resistant bacteria that constitute a particular threat in nursing homes and hospitals. These include Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas and various Enterobacteriaceae.

The high and medium-priority lists contain drug-resistant bacteria that cause more common diseases, such as Salmonella and gonorrhoea. Tuberculosis – whose resistance has been growing in recent years – was not included because other programmes are already targeting this.  

WHO hopes that the list will spur governments to introduce policies that encourage basic science and advanced R&D. They also hope the list will inform not-for-profit projects such as the WHO/Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), which is participating in development of new antibiotics.

"New antibiotics targeting this priority list of pathogens will help to reduce deaths due to resistant infections around the world," says Prof Evelina Tacconelli, head of the division of infectious diseases at the University of Tübingen and a major contributor to the development of the list. "Waiting any longer will cause further public health problems and dramatically impact on patient care."

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.