Antimicrobial resistance is a significant global health threat that is difficult to quantify because it is so challenging to record. While deaths related to antibiotic resistance may not be listed as the cause of death in death certificates, this problem has been gaining attention for years. The World Health Organization called it “one of the greatest health threats of our time.”
Bacteria resistant to nearly all antibiotics are being brought back to Germany by wounded soldiers from the Ukraine. This problem is affecting patient care in hospitals significantly. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, around 1.3 million deaths each year worldwide are directly attributable to antimicrobial resistance. In Germany alone, the Robert Koch Institute calculates up to 9,700 resistance-related deaths every year.
This silent pandemic is particularly challenging to control because it is so difficult to detect. Patients often go to hospitals for other illnesses, and they only come into contact with resistant germs while being treated for their condition. Those at higher risk include the elderly and cancer patients with weakened immune systems.
Development of new antibiotics is unprofitable, and scientists are looking for innovative strategies to tackle this issue. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been warning about the dangers of antibiotic resistance since 2021. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control estimates that there are more than 35,000 resistance-related deaths each year in the European Union, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, and the numbers continue to rise.
A British research group estimated in 2014 that if nothing changes, 10 million people worldwide could die from infections with resistant bacteria by 2050. The difficulty of developing new antibiotics has led scientists to look for new strategies to combat the problem of resistance. Killing bacteria is not always effective, leading to a need for different approaches.
Overall, the fight against antibiotic resistance requires a multi-faceted solution. Scientists are looking for innovative ways to combat the problem while simultaneously developing antibiotics. The situation is urgent, and more resources and global awareness must be directed to address this silent pandemic.
