Resistance to an antibiotic to which a bacterium is innately susceptible. It occurs when a bacterium acquires the ability to resist the actions of a particular antibiotic through either genetic mutation or horizontal gene transfer.

Resistance that is acquired by or innate to a microbe (most often, a bacterium) to any compound that is designed to kill it or inhibit its growth. 

The science of the incidence, distribution and control of disease: here, particularly, infectious disease.

A specialist agency of the United Nations with more than 194 member states that aims to ensure that all people have access to an adequate supply of nutritious food.

Changes in the sequence of DNA due to either errors made while copying the DNA or environmental factors. Genetic mutations in genes can result in changes to the amino acid sequence encoded by the gene and may change the function of the resulting protein.

The theory that many diseases are caused by microorganisms (originally termed ‘germs’).

The Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System for standardising and sharing surveillance data on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) worldwide.

A plan for tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) worldwide endorsed at the World Health Assembly in 2015, with five strategic objectives.

An organism that is colonised by a microorganism – generally, but not necessarily, a pathogenic microorganism.

Diseases that are caused by pathogenic microorganisms that can be directly or indirectly transmitted from one host to another.

(Also known as ‘intrinsic resistance’.) The innate ability of a bacterial species to resist the action of antibiotic as a consequence of the bacteria’s structural or functional characteristics.

(Full name: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.) Strains of the pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus that are resistant to the antibiotic methicillin and cause diseases ranging from simple but difficult-to-treat skin infections to life-threatening septic shock.

Bacteria (or, infrequently, other microorganisms) that are resistant to a range of different antibiotics.

Antibiotics that only affect a small range of bacterial types.

A collaborative approach to healthcare and health research that recognises the interconnection between humans, animals, plants and their shared environment.

Microorganisms that are normally commensal and do not harm their host but can become pathogenic and cause infection when the host’s immune defences are compromised.

An organism – generally, but not necessarily, a microorganism – that is responsible for causing disease: that is to say, an organism that is pathogenic.

Capable of causing disease.

A group of antibiotics based on compounds originally discovered in common moulds that inhibit the formation of the bacterial cell wall.

The proportion of a population that is suffering from a particular disease at a particular time.

A serious and potentially fatal condition that arises after an infection has become systemic. It is characterised by severe low blood pressure (hypotension).

Treating patients with antibiotics prior to surgery to prevent them from developing infections afterwards.

A collaboration between three intergovernmental organisations (the FAO, OIE and WHO) to work holistically together to minimise the spread of and risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), which meets once a year and is attended by all member states.

The intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving the health of livestock and other animals worldwide. (The acronym is derived from the original French name of the organisation, Office International des Epizooties.)

A disease that usually exists in animals but can be transmitted from animals to humans.