An Ancient Killer Is Rapidly Becoming Resistant to Antibiotics, Scientists Warn - ScienceAlert

According to new research, the bacterium that causes typhoid fever is evolving extensive drug resistance, and it's rapidly replacing strains that aren't resistant.

Historically, most XDR typhoid strains have been fought with third-generation antimicrobials, like quinolones, cephalosporins, and macrolides.

Future outbreaks can be prevented to some extent with typhoid conjugate vaccines, but if access to these shots is not expanded globally, the world could soon have another health crisis on its hands.

"The recent emergence of XDR and azithromycin-resistant S Typhi creates greater urgency for rapidly expanding prevention measures, including use of typhoid conjugate vaccines in typhoid-endemic countries," the authors write.

South Asia might be the main hub for typhoid fever, accounting for 70 percent of all cases, but if COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is that disease variants in our modern, globalized world are easily spread.

To prevent that from happening, health experts argue nations must expand access to typhoid vaccines and invest in new antibiotic research.