Definition:
A list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria assessed to be of highest priority for new antibiotic development.
The global bacterial priority pathogens list (BPPL), first published in 2017, was developed by an expert group convened by the World Health Organization and took into account a range of criteria such as global disease burden as well as their rate of transmission and options for treatment and prevention. The list provides a framework for prioritizing global research and development (R&D). Since its latest update in 2024, the BPPL covers 24 pathogens, including 15 families of drug-resistant bacteria in three priority categories (critical, high, medium).