In this section
@article{Kwok:2025:10.1136/thorax-2024-222396,
author = {Kwok, WC and Pates, K and Shah, A and Jackson, L and Frost, F},
doi = {10.1136/thorax-2024-222396},
journal = {Thorax},
title = {Antimicrobial resistance in chronic lung infection: the road to resistance},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/thorax-2024-222396},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health crisis and is particularly relevant to people living with chronic lung diseases such as bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These conditions frequently involve acute and chronic bacterial infections, requiring increased antibiotic usage and risk of AMR. Understanding the dynamics of AMR and emerging diagnostic and therapeutic strategies is crucial for optimising patient outcomes in this setting.Aims This review explores the interplay between AMR and chronic bacterial lung infections, examining current understanding of pathogen epidemiology, diagnostic strategies, clinical implications of resistance and the impact of treatments. Future directions in research and therapeutic innovation are also outlined.Narrative Key pathogens in chronic lung infections, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus and Moraxella catarrhalis, exhibit diverse resistance mechanisms and AMR is linked to increased disease severity, exacerbation frequency and mortality, particularly with multidrug-resistant strains. Long-term antibiotic therapies, such as macrolides and inhaled agents, improve clinical outcomes but may drive resistance, necessitating ongoing efforts to understand how they can best be employed. Traditional diagnostic methods, such as culture-based antimicrobial susceptibility testing, often fail to capture the complexity of polymicrobial infections and resistomes. Although advanced techniques like next-generation sequencing and metagenomics are able to identify clinically relevant resistotypes, their development toward clinical utility is still in progress.Conclusions AMR in chronic lung infections represents a dynamic and multifaceted challenge. Novel antibiotics, precision medicine approaches and alternative therapies such as bacteriophages show promise but require further validation. Improved stewardship and individualised treatment
AU - Kwok,WC
AU - Pates,K
AU - Shah,A
AU - Jackson,L
AU - Frost,F
DO - 10.1136/thorax-2024-222396
PY - 2025///
SN - 0040-6376
TI - Antimicrobial resistance in chronic lung infection: the road to resistance
T2 - Thorax
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/thorax-2024-222396
UR - https://doi.org/10.1136/thorax-2024-222396
ER -
For any enquiries about the Fungal Science Network at Imperial, please contact: