Global report says millions are dying from drug-resistant infections

According to the largest study of the issue to date, over 1.2 million people died worldwide in 2019 from infections caused by bacteria resistant to antibiotics, more than the annual death toll from Aids or malaria.

 

The report says that although poorer countries are worst affected, antimicrobial resistance threatens everyone’s health, and urgent investment in new drugs and using current ones more wisely are recommended to protect against it.

 

The unnecessary overuse of antibiotics in recent years means they are becoming less effective against serious infections.  People are dying from common, previously treatable infections because the bacteria that cause them to have become resistant to treatment.

 

Professor Chris Murray of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, said the new data revealed the true scale of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) worldwide and was a clear signal immediate action was needed “if we want to stay ahead in the race against antimicrobial resistant.”

 

Dr Ramanan Laxminarayan of the Centre for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy in Washington DC, said global spending on addressing AMR needed to rise to levels seen for other disease.

 

“Spending needs to be directed to preventing infections in the first place, making sure existing antibiotics are used appropriately and judiciously, and to bringing new antibiotics to the market.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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