AMR a “global crisis”, says UN report

According to a new report “No Time to Wait: Securing the future from drug-resistant infections” drug-resistant diseases could cause 10 million deaths each year by 2050 and by the year 2030, antimicrobial resistance could force up to 24 million people into extreme poverty. The report also states:

• Tuberculosis (TB) is becoming untreatable
• Lifesaving medical procedures like surgeries carry increasing risks because of "alarming levels" of resistance to antimicrobial drugs
• Resistance to antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiprotozoals, which has been seen in countries of all income levels, is now a "global crisis"
• Drug-resistant diseases cause at least 700,000 deaths globally a year, including 230,000 deaths from multidrug-resistant TB
• 10 million people may die annually by 2030 as a result of drug-resistant diseases.
• Two million Americans develop antibiotic resistance infections each year, and 23,000 die from those infections
• 6 out of every 10 infectious diseases found in humans are spread from animals, the CDC estimates.
• CDC describes three "urgent" antimicrobial resistant threats in the United States: Clostridium difficile, Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Five recommendations

1. Accelerate progress (including implementation of One Health National Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plans)
2. Innovate to secure the future (including development of new antimicrobials)
3. Collaborate for more effective action
4. Invest for sustainable response

5.         Strengthen accountability and global governance.

Dr KK Aggarwal

Padma Shri Awardee

President Elect Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania   (CMAAO)

Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications

President Heart Care Foundation of India

Past National President IMA