Nearly 40 million could die by 2050 from antibiotic-resistant infections by 2050, predicts study
PTC News Desk: Over 40 million people could die from antibiotic-resistant infections by 2050, predicts a new study. The study found that mortality from antibiotic resistance has been continuously growing and is predicted to worsen in the future decades.
"It's a big problem, and it is here to stay," said Christopher J. L. Murray, the study's senior author and director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.
Researchers warn that the growing threat of antibiotic resistance is complicating the treatment of common diseases and jeopardising medical procedures. Their findings show that older persons are disproportionately affected by AMR deaths and have a higher risk of infection.
The study looked at 520 million data points from 204 nations, including hospital discharge records, insurance claims, and death certificates. The authors discovered that between 1990 and 2021, more than a million deaths were caused by antibiotic resistance. They believe that AMR deaths will continue to grow.
Kevin Ikuta, the study's lead author and an assistant professor of clinical medicine at UCLA, stated that the estimated 39 million deaths over the next 25 years would average about three deaths per minute.
The study also reveals an uneven burden: whereas AMR fatalities for children under the age of five fell by more than half between 1990 and 2021, deaths among those over the age of 70 increased by more than 80%. The scientists predict that child deaths will continue to decline, half by 2050, whereas senior deaths would double within the same time period. As the world population ages and becomes more susceptible to infections, this change may result in more AMR mortality among older adults than among other age groups.
Ikuta emphasised the importance of antibiotic overuse and misuse in promoting bacterial resistance. He argues for better antibiotic stewardship to increase access to antibiotics while limiting their overuse.
Ishani Ganguli, a primary care physician and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, emphasises the need to minimise needless antibiotic prescriptions. She often addresses patient concerns regarding antibiotics for viral diseases, such as the common cold, by highlighting the lack of benefits and potential side effects, such as diarrhoea and yeast infections. Ganguli's method includes providing alternative treatments such as saltwater gargles and humidifiers.
- With inputs from agencies
