A Timeline of Reckoning: Tracking the Historical Rise of Antimicrobial Resistance Across HIV, TB, and Malaria.

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major health challenges of this century. Here, we provide an in-depth perspective on the evolution of antimicrobial resistance in three globally relevant infectious diseases, HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria. Specifically, we scrutinize the timelines between deployment and the subsequent emergence of resistance for all drugs that have been mobilised in the fight against these three diseases. Our data reveals that malaria exhibits a slower rate of resistance development to monotherapies in comparison to HIV and TB. While the adoption of combination therapies significantly reduces the risk of de novo emergence of resistance, the challenge of pre-existing drug resistance persists, necessitating continuous surveillance and emphasizing the critical need for diverse and innovative approaches to manage and mitigate the ever-growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.