WHO publishes updated list of medically important antimicrobials

The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its list of medically important antimicrobials, focusing on their importance in human medicine, risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and potential health implications of inappropriate use in nonhuman sectors, particularly in animal agriculture. The list aims to assist policymakers and regulators in risk-based decisions to minimize the adverse impact of antimicrobial use in animals on AMR in humans. Critics argue that the list needs a One Health approach to the judicious use of antimicrobials, considering human health’s interaction with animals and the environment.