This book summarizes the emerging trends in the field of antibiotic resistance of various gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial species. The ability of different species of bacteria to resist the antimicrobial agent has become a global problem. As such, the book provides a comprehensive overview of the advances in our understanding of the origin and mechanism of resistance, discusses the modern concept of the biochemical and genetic basis of antibacterial resistance and highlights the clinical and economic implications of the increased prevalence of antimicrobial resistant pathogens and their ecotoxic effects. It also reviews various strategies to curtail the emergence and examines a number of innovative therapeutic approaches, such as CRISPR, phage therapy, nanoparticles and natural antimicrobials, to combat the spread of resistance.

For many years, physicians and the public assumed that the discovery of new antimicrobial agents would outpace the ability of bacteria to mutate and develop drug resistance. Yet the development of new antibiotics has not kept up with bacterial evolution, especially since the late 1990’s. At that time a multitude of pharmaceutical companies abandoned antibiotic research because of strong economic disincentives. For example, it is challenging for these companies to recuperate the investment (typically in the hundreds of millions of dollars) made in developing a new antibiotic, which is typically prescribed for a few days, compared to drugs that treat chronic conditions like heart disease or mental illness. This situation has led the U.S. federal government to take a more active lead in addressing antibiotic resistance. Recently, the White House announced an action plan that includes improving surveillance, developing better diagnostic tools, accelerating drug development, and improving global coordination of antibiotic resistance issues. Equally important is the $1.2 billion dollars that has been pledged to fund these efforts. While we await the implementation of new policies, this issue of Infectious Disease Clinics of North America brings together leading authorities in the field of antibiotic resistance who discuss current issues including antibiotic stewardship, the changing role of the microbiology laboratory in determining antibiotic resistance in gram-negative pathogens, the continuing spread of metallo-β-lactamases, ESBLs and KPCs, antibiotic options for treating resistant gram-negative infections such as colistin and tigecycline, resistance mechanisms and new treatment options for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, emerging resistance mechanisms in aminoglycosides, issues with antibiotic resistance in immunocompromised patients, new β-lactamase inhibitors in the clinic, and resistance in VRE and Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, combination therapy for resistant gram-negative infections has been advocated by some authorities and the advantages and disadvantages of this strategy will be reviewed.

Antibiotic Resistance: Mechanisms and New Antimicrobial Approaches discusses up-to-date knowledge in mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and all recent advances in fighting microbial resistance such as the applications of nanotechnology, plant products, bacteriophages, marine products, algae, insect-derived products, and other alternative methods that can be applied to fight bacterial infections. Understanding fundamental mechanisms of antibiotic resistance is a key step in the discovery of effective methods to cope with resistance. This book also discusses methods used to fight antibiotic-resistant infection based on a deep understanding of the mechanisms involved in the development of the resistance. Discusses methods used to fight antibiotic-resistant infection based on a deep understanding of mechanisms involved in the development of the resistance Provides information on modern methods used to fight antibiotic resistance Covers a wide range of alternative methods to fight bacterial resistance, offering the most complete information available Discusses both newly emerging trends and traditionally applied methods to fight antibiotic resistant infections in light of recent scientific developments Offers the most up-to-date information in fighting antibiotic resistance Includes involvement of contributors all across the world, presenting questions of interest to readers of both developed and developing countries

Antibiotic resistance has become a worldwide health issue, globally recognized as the first priority by WHO. Many forms of resistance can spread with remarkable speed and cross international boundaries. World health leaders are devoting efforts to the problem by planning strategies for monitoring the effectiveness of public health interventions and detecting new trends and threats. This volume focuses on the problem from different perspectives, taking into consideration geographical dissemination (soil and water), human medicine (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and veterinary (Enterococcus spp.) impact and molecular analysis. The purpose of this volume is to provide a useful tool for control and prevention and to discuss useful epidemiological data concerning ways of obtaining an accurate picture of resistance in different communities.

Meeting the Challenges of Existential Threats through Educational Innovation is the first book of its kind to provide an educational and systematic analysis of problems and solutions regarding the most pressing threats that humankind is facing. The book makes a case for the importance of education responding to significant threats; including climate change, pandemics, decline in global biodiversity, overpopulation, egoism, ideologies, nuclear, biological and chemical warfare, inequality, artificial intelligence, and ignorance and the distortion of truth. Written by leading experts in their field based on cutting-edge research, the chapters explore these issues and offer suggestions for how education can address these problems in the future. This groundbreaking and highly topical book will be an essential reading for academics, researchers and post-graduate students in the fields of education research, environmental studies, educational politics and organizational management.

Principles and Practice of Cancer Infectious Diseases is a comprehensive and insightful work dedicated to elucidating the problem of infections in cancer patients. This essential volume reviews common and less often encountered infections, while establishing the difficulties behind preventing, diagnosing, and treating infectious diseases in cancer patients. Key sections are devoted to the presentation of clinical symptoms and the identification of major etiologic agents. A cadre of leading clinicians provide a detailed assessment of the risk factors for various infections, critical strategies in preventing and managing infections, and study of the interactions between the pathogen and host's immune function and inflammatory response. With its in-depth knowledge and concise treatment of the distinct facets of infections in cancer patients, this volume is an indispensible tool for all infectious disease specialists and clinical oncologists.

The field of bacterial diagnostics has seen unprecedented advances in recent years. The increased need for accurate detection and identification of bacteria in human, animal, food, and environmental samples has fueled the development of new techniques. The field has seen extensive research aided by the information from bacterial genome sequencing projects. Although traditional methods of bacterial detection and identification remain in use in laboratories around the world, there is now a growing trend toward the use of nucleic ac- based diagnostics and alternative biochemically and immunologically based formats. The ultimate goal of all diagnostic tests is the accurate detection, identification, or typing of microorganisms in samples of interest. Although the resulting information is of obvious use in the areas of patient management, animal health, and quality control, it is also of use in monitoring routes of infection and outlining strategies for infection control. There is, therefore, a need to ensure that the information being provided is of the highest standard and that any new technique is capable of delivering this.

In infectious disease management, antibacterial agents have long been viewed as pivotal tools in the relentless battle against microorganisms. However, the escalating threat of antibacterial drug resistance has emerged as a formidable challenge to global health. Contemporary Approaches to Mitigating Antibacterial Drug Resistance delves into the heart of this critical issue, exploring the mechanisms, consequences, and innovative strategies to counteract the surge of resistance, a phenomenon becoming increasingly pervasive and threatening worldwide. Antibacterial drug resistance, a pressing public health concern, transcends geographical boundaries. In regions where antibiotic accessibility and overuse prevail, resistance rates soar, giving rise to the ominous "superbugs." This book unravels the intricacies of drug resistance, examining its impact on infectious disease management, healthcare economics, and societal well-being. The exploration begins with a foundational understanding of antibacterial drug resistance, navigating through the intricate mechanisms that drive its rapid proliferation. Environmental and genetic factors, often overlooked, are dissected for their roles in fostering resistance. The book explores the interplay of antibacterial drugs with micro-biodiversity, shedding light on the indirect repercussions on human and environmental ecosystems. The primary audience, encompassing undergraduate and postgraduate students, medical practitioners, academicians, and researchers, will find in-depth insights into emerging therapeutic targets and recent advances in drug development. The secondary audience, including authorities in antibacterial drug resistance and institutional libraries, will discover a valuable resource addressing the multifaceted dimensions of this global menace.

Many factors have changed interactions between people, animals, and our environment including the emergence and reemergence of diseases such as swine flu, rabies, and diphtheria. By practicing the concept of one health, which relates the close interactions between people, animals, and our environment to overall health, a solution for global wellbeing can be found. Global Applications of One Health Practice and Care provides in-depth research on the concept of one health and the ability to achieve universal health by connecting human health with animal health and a safe environment. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as holism health, drug resistance, and parasitic zoonoses, this book is ideally designed for policy planners, program managers, public health practitioners, animal health specialists, environmentalists, researchers, and academicians seeking current research on achieving better public health outcomes.