The ancient killer has become even more dangerous: drug resistance has been found in cases of typhoid fever.

Scientists are constantly engaged in a life-and-death struggle against various bacteria, developing treatment methods. However, recent changes in one particular strain that has become resistant to nearly all medications have left humanity on the brink of defeat.

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Drug-resistant typhoid fever is becoming a critical issue for global health as the bacterium Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S Typhi) develops resistance to multiple antibiotics. Historically rare in developed countries, typhoid fever remains a significant threat, particularly in South Asia, which accounts for 70% of all cases worldwide. However, its adaptation to medications poses a risk of becoming a global problem, writes ScienceAlert.

Researchers are alarmed by the fact that in many endemic regions, strains resistant to first-line antibiotics like ampicillin and chloramphenicol, as well as to newer drugs such as fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins, are now prevalent. A study published in The Lancet Microbe, which sequenced 3,489 strains of S Typhi in Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India (2014-2019), revealed a significant increase in cases of typhoid fever with extensive drug resistance (EDR). These strains have begun to spread globally, with cases reported in the UK, USA, and Canada.

"The speed at which highly resistant strains of S. Typhi have emerged and spread in recent years is a genuine cause for concern," commented Jason Andrews, an infectious disease specialist from Stanford University, on the study's findings. A troubling aspect of EDR typhoid fever is its increasing resistance to the last remaining oral antibiotic, azithromycin. Researchers fear that resistance mutations to azithromycin in EDR strains could render all existing oral treatments ineffective.

Without treatment, typhoid fever can have a mortality rate of up to 20%, with 11 million cases reported worldwide each year. Vaccination is becoming a crucial tool in combating this crisis. Typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCVs) have shown potential in reducing incidence rates, and a study conducted in India indicated that vaccination campaigns in urban areas could reduce typhoid cases by 36%.

Pakistan is leading prevention efforts, becoming the first country to implement a nationwide immunization plan against typhoid fever. Health experts emphasize the need for global expansion of vaccination programs to curb the potential spread of resistant strains.

Antimicrobial resistance is a serious issue in modern healthcare, leading to more deaths annually than HIV/AIDS or malaria. The rise in cases of typhoid fever with EDR highlights the necessity of expanding vaccination coverage and accelerating research into the development of new antibiotic treatments.

This material is for informational purposes only and does not contain advice that may affect your health. If you are experiencing issues, please consult a specialist.