Infections caused by drug-resistant superbugs could result in nearly 40 million deaths worldwide over the next 25 years, according to a groundbreaking global analysis. The study, released ahead of a high-level United Nations meeting, warns of the growing danger posed by superbugs bacteria or pathogens resistant to antibiotics, making them far more difficult to treat.
Published in The Lancet, this research is the first of its kind to track the global impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) over time and project its future consequences. It reveals that over a million people died annually from superbug infections between 1990 and 2021. The study also highlights that while deaths among children under five from AMR infections have halved due to improved preventive measures, infections in this age group are now much harder to treat.
Conversely, deaths among those over 70 have surged by 80% over the same period, as elderly populations become more vulnerable to drug-resistant infections. One particularly troubling example is MRSA, a type of staph bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics, which saw deaths double to 130,000 by 2021.
AMR’s Global Threat to Health
The researchers used models to predict that, if current trends continue, AMR-related deaths will increase by 67%, with nearly 2 million direct deaths annually by 2050. Additionally, the indirect impact of AMR could contribute to 8.2 million annual deaths, a staggering 75% increase from today. Altogether, the study estimates that AMR could directly or indirectly account for 169 million deaths in the next quarter-century.
However, there is hope. The study suggests that if global efforts improve the treatment of severe infections and enhance access to antimicrobial drugs, up to 92 million lives could be saved by 2050.
“AMR has been a significant global health threat for decades, and this threat is growing,” warned study co-author Mohsen Naghavi from the US-based Institute of Health Metrics.
A Call for Global Action
The study, which examined 22 pathogens and 84 drug-pathogen combinations, underscores the urgency of addressing AMR, a problem exacerbated by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in humans, animals, and agriculture. As superbugs become harder to combat, coordinated international efforts are essential to curb their spread and mitigate future deaths. The issue is set to be discussed at a high-level United Nations meeting on September 26.
With the potential to save millions of lives, experts stress the importance of swift global action to improve infection care and reduce antibiotic misuse, making the future health landscape less dire.
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