Antibiotic-Resistant Infections Could Kill 40 Million by 2050, Study Warns

A new study published in The Lancet warns that nearly 40 million people could die from antibiotic-resistant infections by 2050, as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to rise globally. The study, led by researchers from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, found that deaths from antibiotic-resistant infections have been steadily increasing since 1990 and are expected to accelerate in the coming decades.

Senior author Christopher J.L. Murray called AMR a “big problem” that is here to stay. The study revealed that older adults are particularly vulnerable to these infections, with the number of AMR-related deaths among individuals aged 70 and older increasing by over 80% between 1990 and 2021. By 2050, deaths among seniors are expected to double, potentially surpassing those in all other age groups as the global population ages.

The study, which analyzed 520 million data points from 204 countries, projected that around 39 million deaths from antibiotic-resistant infections could occur over the next 25 years, averaging about three deaths per minute. Regions like South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are expected to bear the heaviest burden, with South Asia alone projected to account for 11.8 million deaths.

Lead author Kevin Ikuta highlighted the role of antibiotic overuse and misuse in driving bacterial resistance. He emphasized the importance of better antibiotic stewardship to balance access to life-saving antibiotics while preventing their overuse. Experts like Ishani Ganguli from Harvard Medical School also stressed the need for reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, particularly for viral infections.

The study calls for urgent global action to combat antibiotic resistance by improving infection prevention, promoting responsible antibiotic use, and developing new treatment options. Without these steps, the world faces a growing public health threat that could jeopardize common medical procedures and treatments.

Source: NDTV