Pathogenic Bacteria and Fungi: Virulence, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Modern Strategies for Diagnosis and Control (2020–2026)

Abstract

Pathogenic bacteria and fungi represent structural challenges to global health and food security, driven by increasing antimicrobial resistance and the complexity of their virulence mechanisms. This narrative review  analyzes the emergence of these agents under the One Health perspective, detailing biological strategies such as biofilm formation, phenotypic plasticity, and horizontal gene transfer that sustain persistence in clinical and productive environments. The critical impact of priority pathogens (such as Candida auris and multidrug-resistant bacteria) and therapeutic scarcity, especially antifungal, aggravated by environmental selective pressure, are discussed. The study also evaluates diagnostic advances, highlighting metagenomics (mNGS) and genomic surveillance as decisive tools for traceability and outbreak control. It is concluded that mitigating these threats depends on the integration of technological innovation, rapid diagnostics, and robust health governance, essential to preserve therapeutic efficacy and the sustainability of health systems.