Antimicrobial Resistance: Molecular Epidemiology, Global Burden, and Strategies for Containment

A rigorous review of the mechanisms underlying antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across bacterial, fungal, and parasitic pathogens, this chapter details the genetic and biochemical basis of resistance acquisition and dissemination, including mobile genetic elements, efflux pumps, beta-lactamases, and target modification pathways. It critically assesses the global epidemiology of priority resistant organisms — including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and pan-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii — alongside the latest evidence on stewardship programmes, infection prevention strategies, and novel therapeutic approaches to counter the AMR crisis.