Study reveals how antibiotic resistance evolves and spreads in ‘top priority’ superbug

Researchers at the University of Liverpool have gained new insight into how antibiotic resistance evolves and spreads in one of the world’s most dangerous superbugs.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of three top priority pathogens that the World Health Organization deems as “critical” for new antibiotics to target. This difficult-to-treat opportunistic pathogen has the ability to quickly develop resistance to multiple drugs, including powerful ‘last-resort’ carbapenem antibiotics, and poses a great threat to human health.