Physicians expect millions of dead by resistant germs
The increase in antibiotic resistance is posing an ever-increasing challenge for physicians. If such drugs no longer work, even small inflammations can be a big risk. If the problem is not brought under control soon, according to researchers threatens a horror scenario.
"Global problem that demands global solutions"
Only a few months ago, an EU Commission warned of massively increasing antibiotic resistance. At that time, EU Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis said, around 25,000 people in the EU die each year from bacterial infections caused by resistant bacteria. According to the expert, the danger is not limited to Europe, but "a global problem that demands global solutions". Now, British researchers have called for worldwide fight against resistant germs.
Deaths could increase tenfold
An estimated 700,000 people are already dying every year from infections caused by pathogens that are not medicated. Without appropriate countermeasures, the number could increase more than tenfold by 2050. This is the conclusion of a report commissioned by the British Government. A study of the Berlin Charité carried out on behalf of the Green parliamentary group, came last year even to the fear that by 2050 there could be about ten million deaths by multi-resistant germs.
Special attention to multi-resistant bacteria
The news agency dpa reports that the latest report from the United Kingdom also deals with pathogens such as HIV and malaria-inducing parasites, some of which are insensitive to available medicines. However, special attention is given to multidrug-resistant bacteria that no longer respond to antibiotics. If antibiotics lose their effectiveness through resistance, important medical procedures such as caesarean sections, transplants or other surgical procedures could become too dangerous, the researchers write. In addition, they estimate that infection by resistant germs could cost up to € 90 trillion by 2050, unless it is traded earlier.
Restricting the use of antibiotics worldwide
In a ten-point program, the research team led by the British economist Jim O'Neill, among other things, calls for reducing the use of antibiotics in agriculture worldwide and monitoring all resistance more closely. In addition, a global fund for the development of new antibiotics and a global Confederation in the fight against resistance is needed. This could arise through G20 nations and the United Nations. Last but not least, the diagnosis of diseases must be improved and the development of vaccines promoted. It may also help to focus more on traditional treatments. For example, Canadian researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) recently reported in the journal "mBio" of the American Society for Microbiology that natural healing clay from Canada works against multi-resistant germs. The natural clay from the Kisameet bay thus shows a "strong antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens," the researchers said.
Huge amounts of medication wasted on humans and animals
As stated in the recent British report, huge amounts of antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs are being wasted on people and animals across the world that they do not need. "We need to tell people in different ways around the world why it's critical that we stop treating our antibiotics like sweets," O'Neill told the BBC. "If we do not solve the problem, we are heading for the Middle Ages." In Germany, since the beginning of the month antibiotics-resistant pathogens must be reported immediately, as soon as they are detected. Previously, the germs were displayed only at the outbreak. Doctors Without Borders has described the report as a "first step in the right direction", but it is not enough. Medicines should become affordable for more people. "The current innovation system does not contribute to the development and delivery of the vaccines, diagnostics and medicines we really need," said Marco Alves, the organization's drug expert. "And if there are, they are often priceless or unsuitable for use in developing countries." (Ad)