New study: Antibiotic resistance could cause nearly 40 million deaths by 2050

2024-09-19

Earlier this week a new study from the GBD Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators was published in the Lancet. It presents historical trends and future forecasts of antibiotic resistance burden across the world. This groundbreaking study underscores the critical need for coordinated global efforts to tackle antibiotic resistance and ensure sustainable use and availability of antibiotics.

The new study forecasts increasing deaths from antibiotic resistance, if action is not stepped up. Antibiotic resistance could cause nearly 40 million deaths between now and 2050, with older people most at risk. By 2050, it is predicted that 1.91 million annual deaths will be caused by antibiotic resistance.

It also suggests that improved care of infections and access to antibiotics could avert 92 million deaths in the coming 25 years, especially in low-and middle-income countries. Specifically, improving access to existing antibiotics alone could help save more than 50 million lives.

CNN Health: Superbug crisis could get worse, killing nearly 40 million people by 2050, study estimates.

LA Times – Science & Health: Drug-resistant germs will kill millions more people in coming decades, researchers warn.