Study Reveals High Threat Of Antibiotic-Resistant Infections

Antibiotic-resistant infections and drug-resistant bacteria have fast become a global health threat, and it’s on track to kill millions more in 2022. This is according to a recent study published in The Lancet Medical Journal. 

The findings of the study have brought to light another pandemic. Researchers studied 471 million records from 204 countries and territories and found that drug-resistant bacterial infections were associated with almost 5 million deaths in 2019. Further shocking revelations are found in the study as well.

With this, the overlooked pandemic of antimicrobial resistance has now come from the shadows and taken the front stage alongside the global focus on the COVID pandemic. 

Shocking Findings Reveal Pressing Need To Address Misuse Of Antibiotics

The findings of the study — which was funded by the U.K. government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation — were revealed on CNBC. They include:

• Drug-resistant bacterial infections were associated with almost 5 million deaths in 2019.
• Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections played some role in 4.95 million deaths in the same year.
• Bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the leading public health threats of the 21st century.
• Lower respiratory infections like pneumonia, which were responsible for 400,000 deaths, were the “most burdensome infectious syndrome” relating to bacterial AMR. 
• Bloodstream infections and intra-abdominal infections were the most prevalent drug-resistant diseases that led to deaths in 2019. 
• The three most common syndromes accounted for almost 80% of deaths attributable to AMR.
• E. coli and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) were among the drug-resistant bacteria that led to the most deaths. 
• So-called superbug MRSA directly accounted for more than 100,000 deaths.
• The six pathogens identified causing the most deaths from AMR have been identified by the WHO as priority pathogens.
• Globally, 16.4 deaths in every 100,000 were attributable to drug-resistant bacteria in 2019. 
• In western sub-Saharan Africa, where AMR accounted for the highest proportion of deaths globally, that rate rose to 27.3 per 100,000 deaths.
• Deaths associated with, but not directly caused by AMR accounted for 64 in every 100,000 deaths in 2019, researchers said.

Adding to the alarming findings of the study, The World Health Organization (WHO) has described antibiotic resistance as “one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today.” 

According to WHO, the phenomenon occurs naturally, but misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals greatly accelerates the process of resistance.

Alarmingly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention further revealed that more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the U.S. every year, with more than 35,000 people dying as a result. 

In 2022 and recent years, a growing number of illnesses have become more difficult to treat. With effectivity of antibiotics becoming less and less, this once effective tool against bacterial infections may become redundant in the future. 

All of this spells out a possible zero ability to treat common illnesses in the future, as well as higher medical costs, longer hospitalizations and increased mortality. 

The Study Calls For Stringent Intervention Strategies In Relation To U.S. Antibiotic Use

While antibiotics are sometimes needed to treat or prevent bacterial infections, the overuse and misuse of antibiotics have, over time, helped some serious bacteria evolve to become resistant to these antibiotics, which once worked.

Due to the rising threat, stringent intervention strategies need to be put in place to address the surging problem posed by drug-resistant bacteria. 

Recommendations from the study include 

• A reduction in human exposure to antibiotics in meat 
• More attention, funding, capacity building, research and development, and pathogen-specific priority setting from the broader global health community
• Antibiotic investment is essential
• The minimization of the unnecessary use of antibiotics 
• Surpassing the need for antibiotics through the receiving of vaccinations. 
• Maintaining investment in the development of new antibiotics
• Build laboratory infrastructure to address burdens of AMR by improving the management of individual patients and the quality of data in local and global surveillance
• Enhancing infrastructure to expand AMR research in the future to evaluate the indirect effects of antibiotic resistance.
• Identifying more strategies to reduce the burden of bacterial AMR

The Public Must Play A Role To Reduce Individual Antibiotic Resistance Development

When it comes to personal consumption of antibiotics and efforts to reduce antibiotic resistance development, The Mayo Clinic advises the individuals to:

• Avoid pressuring your doctor to give you an antibiotic prescription. Ask your doctor for advice on how to treat symptoms.
• Practice good hygiene to avoid bacterial infections that require antibiotic treatment.
• Ensure all recommended vaccinations are done to protect against bacterial infections
• Reduce your risk of getting a foodborne bacterial infection. 
• Use antibiotics only as prescribed by your doctor. Take the prescribed daily dosage, and complete the entire course of treatment.
• Never take leftover antibiotics for a later illness or antibiotics prescribed for another person.

It’s time For Antibiotic Stewardship

The appropriate use of antibiotics worldwide will further help preserve the effectiveness of current antibiotics, extend the life span of current antibiotics, protect people from antibiotic-resistant infections and avoid side effects from using antibiotics inappropriately.