Attention! Antibiotic resistance is expected to kill more than 30 million people

2024-09-17 21:51:19

Any global study published no The Lancet warned that more than 39 million people could die from antibiotic-resistant infections in the next 25 years.

The research, carried out by the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Research Project (GRAM), is the first global analysis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) trends over time.

Between 1990 and 2021, AMR was the direct cause of over a million deaths each year. The research projects that, by 2050, annual direct deaths from AMR could rise to 1.91 million, representing an increase of almost 70% compared to 2022.

In addition, the number of AMR-related deaths is expected to increase from 4.71 million to 8.22 million per year. ADR deaths among children under five have halved since 1990, but deaths among people aged 70 and over have increased by more than 80%.

The study shows that antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem, with a significant increase in the number of deaths directly attributed to resistant pathogens. Resistance to critical antibiotics, such as MRSA and carbapenems, has shown alarming growth.

In 2021, MRSA was responsible for 130,000 deaths, more than double the number in 1990. Carbapenem resistance also increased from 127,000 to 216,000 deaths in the same period.

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Global research shows a significant increase in deaths from resistant infections (Image: Oxana A/Shutterstock)

Antibiotic resistance could kill millions

• The study predicts that AMR will cause more than 39 million deaths directly between 2025 and 2050 and be associated with 169 million deaths more broadly.
• The number of deaths among children under the age of five is expected to continue to decline, but this will be offset by the increase in deaths in the older age groups, particularly among those aged 70 and over. to increase by 146% by 2050.
• South Asia, including countries such as India and Pakistan, is expected to account for the highest number of direct AMR deaths, with a predicted 11.8 million between 2025 and 2050.
• Other affected regions include Southeast Asia, East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The study also suggests that improved treatment of infections and access to antibiotics could prevent 92 million deaths between 2025 and 2050. In addition, the development of new antibiotics that target Gram-negative bacteria could prevent causing 11.08 million deaths worldwide in the same period.

The researchers emphasize the urgent need for new strategies to combat AMR, including improvements in vaccination, antibiotic use and the development of new medicines. They also highlight the importance of investing in data collection and healthcare infrastructure to obtain more accurate estimates and address the growing challenge of AMR.

In summary, antimicrobial resistance is a significant threat to global health, and the situation could worsen without effective action, resulting in millions of additional deaths in the coming years.

Experts stress the urgent need for interventions to avoid a health catastrophe – Image: shutterstock/Lightspring