Antimicrobial resistance set to become bigger killer than cancer by 2050

By Samuel White | EURACTIV.com

14-11-2017

Antimicrobial resistance is a ticking time bomb. Ahead of European Antibiotic Awareness Day on 18 November, the EU and public health stakeholders are aiming to raise awareness of this issue and make it a policy priority in the member states.

The overuse of antibiotics in livestock makes encourages the development of drug-resistant microorganisms.
[Martin Cathrae/Flickr]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) currently claims 25,000 lives in the EU every year and 700,000 worldwide, but is projected to become a bigger killer than cancer by 2050, unless drastic action is taken.

Curbing the irresponsible use of antibiotics is a vital part of this struggle. Overuse of antibiotics speeds up the development of resistant strains of bacteria and renders the drugs less effective, which experts warn puts the very foundations of our medical system at risk.

According to the European Consumer Organisation BEUC, the problem of resistance to antibiotic drugs is growing at such a rate that even routine infections could become deadly in the next 20 years.

In a paper, BEUC said that without antibiotics, “therapies such as stem cell transplants, bone marrow transplantation, cancer chemotherapy as well as therapies weakening the immune system (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis treatments), would be impossible”.

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