Climate change impact on disease emergence and antimicrobial resistance: A perspective on transmission and detection

Abstract

Summary Climate change is increasingly disrupting environmental and ecological systems, creating conditions that facilitate the emergence, transmission, and persistence of infectious diseases and the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This scoping review analyzed 427 articles published over the past five years, retrieved from major scientific databases. Findings show that climate variables significantly influence pathogen growth, reproduction, and transmission through vectors. Strong associations were identified between climatic changes and the spread of bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoal diseases. Temperature fluctuations and anoxic conditions can promote AMR development. Climate-driven migration of birds and bats further contributes to cross-border pathogen transmission. The review also highlights emerging AI tools for rapid pathogen detection, diagnosis, and surveillance. Overall, climate change poses significant public health risks through increased infectious and non-infectious disease burden, zoonotic spillover, and AMR spread, emphasizing the need for integrated climate-health policies, AMR stewardship, AI-enabled surveillance, and interdisciplinary One Health research.