Antibiotic Apocalypse: Superbugs Could Kill 10M Per Year
By PNW Staff May 24, 2016
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A tiny cut leaves you fighting for your life. Basic treatments are
ineffective. An operation proves deadly. Luck may be the only thing that
saves you.
This isn't the plot of a poorly-executed science fiction novel but rather a startling new reality. A future without antibiotics.
In a recent report, former Goldman Sachs economist Jim
O'Neill warns that antibiotic-resistant bacteria could ultimately kill
one person every three seconds by 2050--an average of 10 million people a
year.
Known as "superbugs," these bacteria
strands are evolving and growing more dangerous as they develop immunity
to antibiotics. Superbugs will lead to an estimated 700,000 deaths this
year alone. Without preventive steps immediately, O'Neill fears the
world may be heading towards the "dark ages."
"Routine
surgeries and minor infections will become life-threatening once again
and the hard won victories against infectious diseases over the last 50
years will be jeopardized," the report said.
Unfortunately,
the problem has already begun, creating a medical "catch-22"--the more
antibiotics used, the stronger the superbugs become. Simply put, overuse
of antibiotics actually creates a resistance to them, and it is this
overuse that needs to be addressed first.
"We
need to inform in different ways, all over the world, why it's crucial
we stop treating our antibiotics like sweets," O'Neill said.
The
latest evidence of this rising issue comes from the discovery of a
colistin-resistant gene several months ago in China. Colistin is
considered the "last resort" antibiotic, given only when nothing else
works.
Used to defeat infection when
everything else fails, the finding that it, too, is becoming resistant
to bacteria has scientists alarmed. Since the original report was
published, this gene has been detected in farm animals, produce and
humans in 19 countries. No discoveries have yet been made in the United
States.
Although the report acknowledges that
the developing nations of Asia and Africa are most at risk, experts fear
superbugs will continue to expand worldwide through food. Misuse of
antibiotics in animal production, used to promote growth, presents a
major risk globally.
"There is an increasingly
robust consensus that unnecessary use of antibiotics in animals and
agriculture is a significant concern of human health," the report said.
In addition to being transferred through food, superbugs
can also be easily spread from person to person. O'Neill advocates that
reducing this threat is simple math.
"The less
people get infected, the less they need to use medicines such as
antibiotics, and the less drug resistance arrives," he said.
To
achieve this goal, individuals are encouraged to take small steps to
improve hygiene, stopping infections before they even start. While new
technologies and medicines are needed, the report stresses that
"fundamental health practices" cannot suffer. Basic habits, like proper
hand washing, are not only key in ending the growth of superbugs but
also preventing the spread of infections entirely.
"The
basics of public health--clean water, good sanitation and hygiene,
infection prevention and control, and surveillance--are as critical for
reducing the impact of antimicrobial resistance as they are for
infectious disease control," the report said.
The
challenge of drug resistance, however, cannot be solved by just a few
people. It requires a large, coordinated response on a global scale.
Infections are inevitable. People get sick. Without worldwide
involvement, one infected individual or animal can begin a cascade of
resistant bacteria that will spread to other parts of the world.
The
report urges every nation to take action proactively by investing in
new antibiotic research, upgrading medical facilities and creating
global oversight. Sooner or later, the report cautions, governments will
be forced to "bear the cost."
"There is no
excuse for inaction given what we know about the impact of rising drug
resistance," the report said. "All countries need to act."
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