Drug-resistant bacteria linked to 35,000 EU deaths yearly
Antimicrobial resistance is estimated to cause about 35,000 deaths a year in the European Union, a toll comparable to influenza, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS combined, according to Euronews. A Lancet study projects that bacterial resistance could directly cause 39 million deaths worldwide between 2025 and 2050. Fiona Walsh explains that resistance arises when bacteria no longer respond to the medicines normally used against them. Spread is driven by antibiotic overuse in humans and animals, poor sanitation, environmental pollution and the movement of resistant bacteria and genes.
Key facts
- Walsh notes that combination antibiotic treatments for multidrug-resistant infections sometimes fail, leading to death.
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Why it matters
Resistant infections already cause substantial deaths in the EU, and projections point to a rising global burden.
What changed
First published from Euronews