A recently published studey in the journal The Lancet paints a troubling picture for the future of global health. With antimicrobial resistance (AMR) set to cause nearly 40 million deaths by 2050, the study underscores a growing crisis in which drug-resistant superbugs could overpower medical defences. This projection reflects a near 70% increase in mortality due to infections that are no longer treatable with current antibiotics. The findings highlight the urgent need for action to address this health emergency.
Antimicrobial resistance
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria and fungi develop the ability to resist the effects of medications designed to kill them. The World Health Organization (WHO) has flagged AMR as a top global health threat, worsened by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in humans, animals and agriculture.
The study, led by Dr Chris Murray of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, reveals that if current trends continue, AMR will become an even more severe issue.
One of the study’s findings is the contrasting trends in AMR deaths across age groups. While deaths from AMR among children under five have decreased by more than 50% due to improvements in vaccination, sanitation and treatment, deaths among adults aged 70 and older have surged by over 80% since 1990.
The regions most affected by AMR are South Asia, Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa– where access to quality healthcare is limited.
Dr Murray points out that inadequate access to antibiotics and supportive care in low-resource settings contributes significantly to the burden of AMR.
Basic healthcare infrastructure, including access to oxygen and intensive care units, remains inadequate in many of these areas, exacerbating the problem.
The path forward
Despite the grim projections, there is hope for mitigating the impact of AMR. The study suggests that improved healthcare quality and the development of new, potent antibiotics could prevent millions of deaths.
Better heatlhcare access could avert 92 million deaths between 2025 and 2050, while new antibiotics could save about 11 million lives.
Innovations such as phage therapy, which targets bacteria more specifically, could also play a crucial role in managing resistant infections.
The study said that scaling up these interventions could significantly reduce future deaths and bring hope to a world facing the rising challenge of drug-resistant superbugs.
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