Superbugs caused by antibiotic resistance could kill 39 million people by 2050

Antibiotic resistance has caused one million deaths worldwide each year since 1990, totaling 36 million deaths. It is projected to cause more than 39 million additional deaths by 2050 — three people per minute.

Superbugs caused by antibiotic resistance could kill 39 million people by 2050
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That’s according to a major study led by the Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance (GRAM) Project, a partnership between the University of Oxford and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. After analyzing 520 million health records, the researchers provided future projections for 22 pathogens, 84 pathogen-drug combinations, and 11 infection syndromes across 204 countries and territories, according to a GRAM press release.

What is antimicrobial resistance?

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria and other microbes become resistant to the drugs used to treat them, creating “superbugs.” This can make infections difficult or impossible to treat, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Jasmine Riviere Marcelin, MD, of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said antibiotics have enabled modern medical practices such as organ transplants, complex surgeries, and the care of premature babies. However, antibiotic-resistant bacteria now pose a major health risk by hampering the ability to treat infections.

Maureen Tierney, MD, of Creighton University School of Medicine, added that this is a comprehensive effort to determine the burden of antimicrobial resistance in terms of disability and death. Antibiotic resistance has increased significantly since 1990, particularly in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections.

While AMR-related deaths among children under five fell by half from 1990 to 2021, the largest increase was among adults over 70. The researchers predict this trend will continue into the future, with AMR deaths among older adults more than doubling by 2050.

Combating Antimicrobial Resistance

Global health leaders will meet at the UN General Assembly to discuss new strategies to combat AMR. Measures such as vaccination, increased access to clean water, sanitation, and infection control in health facilities are expected to help.

Marcelin stressed the importance of judicious antibiotic stewardship and infection control. He said antibiotics should be used only when needed, at the right dose and duration, to prevent further resistance and keep the world moving forward medically in reducing deaths from bacterial infections.

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