Massive use of antibiotics Millions of deaths due to multi-resistant germs possible

If it goes on with the proliferating and careless use of antibiotics worldwide, that can have fatal health concerns. Such drugs will then fail as a "miracle weapon" against various diseases. According to one study, the number of deaths could increase to ten million due to antibiotic resistance.

Number of dead will increase to ten million
The number of deaths due to multidrug-resistant bacteria will increase drastically in the future without a sharp reversal in the use of antibiotics in humans and animals. According to a report by the news agency dts, this is the result of a study by the Berlin Charité commissioned by the green parliamentary group on which the "Berliner Zeitung" reports. In Germany alone, the Federal Ministry of Health estimates a total of 400,000 to 600,000 patients a year who get infections through medical treatment. About a tenth of these hospital germs are now considered multi-resistant, so they no longer respond to common antibiotics. Every year, up to 15,000 people die from such infections in Germany. The authors warn in the study that the number of deaths from currently around 700,000 per year worldwide without countermeasures will increase to ten million by 2050. For Europe, an increase from now 23,000 to 400,000 deaths is forecast. That would mean that more people would die of multidrug-resistant germs than, for example, cancer.

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In Germany, more antibiotics are used in animal breeding than in human beings
The study states: "The worldwide increase in antibiotic-resistant germs is one of the greatest dangers to human health." In Germany, according to an analysis, about one third of all health insurance gets an antibiotic every year. According to the authors, 30 percent of all antibiotics in human medicine are not necessary. The study describes the use of antibiotics in animals in Germany as highly problematic. According to the figures, the Federal Republic of Germany is one of the eight European countries where more antibiotics are used in animal breeding than in the human sector. Multidrug-resistant germs that form in animals on fattening farms then also get into food. For example, it has recently been reported that chicken meat is often contaminated with multidrug-resistant bacteria. The agricultural policy spokesman of the Greens in the Bundestag, Friedrich Ostendorff, had said in this context that the result reflects a "serious problem". The preparation of chicken meat must therefore take place under "highest safety aspects".

Prohibited certain antibiotics in the animal sector
The study calls for the use of antibiotics in humans and animals to always be considered together and massively reduced in both areas. For example, the prohibition of certain antibiotics in the animal sector is stimulated, which is absolutely necessary for infections in humans. If such drugs are no longer effective due to resistance, even small inflammations can become a major threat in the future due to the lack of treatment options. Multidrug-resistant germs are a major risk, especially for people with a weakened immune system as well as for the elderly. Especially in hospitals and nursing homes such pathogens are widespread in Germany. An infection can trigger different symptoms in patients, including inflammation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting or blood poisoning.

More staff required in the clinics
Even though a new remedy for dangerous hospital germs is currently being researched, science is still far from being able to master the problem. The black-red federal government has recently announced that resistant germs should be fought more efficiently. The new Berlin study also calls for more staff in the clinics. For the animal sector, it also proposes a ban on discounts by pharmaceutical companies and state price regulation. This should both the price decline of antibiotics stopped and the mass application are difficult. The World Health Organization (WHO) wants to launch a global action program, according to a news agency dpa press release, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel has also put the issue on the agenda at the G7 meeting. However, the Greens in the Bundestag do not go far enough with the German government's proposals. The state is still too little active against antibiotic abuse in factory farming. Greens parliamentary leader Anton Hofreiter demanded: "For humans survival-important reserve antibiotics must be immediately banned in the stable." (Ad)