Christina Assi’s injuries in a 2024 artillery strike underscore the link between war and the spread of drug-resistant pathogens, as researchers uncover how conflicts fuel antimicrobial resistance.
Francesca Mari reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- War conditions create environments where infections thrive, often resistant to antibiotics, due to unsanitary conditions and damaged health infrastructure.
- Heavy metals from modern weapons may genetically alter bacteria, making them resistant to antibiotics.
- Resistant bacteria like A. baumannii, nicknamed “Iraqibacter,” proliferate in overcrowded hospitals and conflict zones, posing a global health threat.
Key quote:
“Wars can kill thousands, but bacteria kills millions.”
— Osama Zuhair Salman, the technical director of Baghdad Teaching Hospital
Why this matters:
Antimicrobial resistance threatens global health, with infections becoming harder to treat and spreading beyond conflict zones. The issue emphasizes the need for coordinated global efforts to combat drug-resistant pathogens fueled by war and inadequate health systems.
Related: The U.S. weakens global effort to fight antibiotic resistance
