Present and future contribution of vaccines to tackle antibiotic resistance spread and evolution
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a silent pandemic that is estimated to cause around 1.3 million deaths annually globally, with close to 5 million deaths associated with AMR, and which is estimated to increase significantly up to 10 million annual deaths in 2050. Such figures exceed deaths by cancer and diabetes combined, and they do not take into account the impact of being unable to safely perform high-risk medical procedures, such as complex surgery or chemotherapy. Vaccines offer sustainable protection against AMR. A compelling and growing evidence base shows that vaccines are an important complementary tool to reduce the threat of AMR. This Special Focus reviews the current state of evidence on existing vaccines and AMR and shows future directions for vaccines specifically designed for AMR relevant pathogens. It is the first Special Focus on the topic published in HV&I and it remains open to new submissions.
Edited by
Federico Marchetti(GSK Verona, Italy)