rt Medical... Drug-resistant superbugs' spread surging, World Health Organization warns - CBS News
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning about the escalating crisis of drug-resistant bacterial infections. These infections are undermining the effectiveness of essential treatments, turning minor ailments and common illnesses into life-threatening conditions. The WHO highlights that a significant proportion of bacterial infections globally are now resistant to antibiotics, posing a severe risk to public health.
- In 2023, one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide displayed resistance to antibiotic treatments.
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is directly responsible for over a million deaths annually and contributes to nearly five million more.
- A WHO report examined resistance to 22 antibiotics used for common infections, finding that over 40 percent of monitored antibiotics showed increased resistance in the five years leading up to 2023, with an average annual rise of 5-15 percent.
- Globally, resistance to commonly used antibiotics for urinary tract infections exceeded 30 percent.
- More than 40 percent of E. coli infections and 55 percent of K. pneumoniae infections are now resistant to first-choice treatments like third-generation cephalosporins.
- The rise of AMR is outpacing medical advancements, threatening global health.
- In the U.S., drug-resistant infections saw a nearly 70% jump between 2019 and 2023.
- While surveillance has improved, 48 percent of countries still do not report AMR data, creating significant blind spots.
- Available data suggests higher resistance rates in regions with weaker health systems and less surveillance, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean, where one in three reported infections were resistant. The African region reported one in five resistant infections.
- Weaker health systems may lack the capacity to diagnose and treat infections effectively, contributing to higher resistance rates.
- The WHO warns that the pipeline of new tests and treatments is insufficient to combat the growing spread of drug-resistant bacteria, creating a dangerous future threat due to increased antibiotic use, rising resistance, and a dwindling supply of new solutions.
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