Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is estimated to have caused over 1.2 million deaths globally in 2019, a number expected to rise to over 10 million deaths every year by 2050.
AMR is a major threat to modern medicine because of the growing ineffectiveness of ‘last-resort’ antibiotics to treat multidrug-resistant infections. In parallel, scientists have struggled since the ‘golden-age’ of antibiotic discovery in the 1950s to find new therapies. This challenge has been exacerbated by the economic paradox of antibiotic development: high-cost investment for discovery, development and production, with very low returns. This is because any new antibiotic is reserved for ‘last-resort’ usage to reduce the opportunity for resistance to develop.
The overuse and misuse of antibiotics is a major driver of AMR. Preventing infections in the first place is an important strategy to lessen the strain on existing antibiotic therapies, reducing their usage and therefore also reducing antibiotic resistance.
A key intervention for preventing infections is practising good hygiene. However, Water Aid reports that 1 in 10 people around the world don’t have access to clean water. Over half of healthcare facilities worldwide are without access to clean water and sanitation, putting millions of lives at risk of infections, and contributing to the rise of antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’.
Over 1.2 million deaths caused by AMR in 2019
1 in 10 people worldwide don't have access to clean water
Over half of healthcare facilities worldwide are without access to clean water
The overuse and misuse of antibiotics is a major driver of AMR. Preventing infections in the first place is an important strategy to lessen the strain on existing antibiotic therapies, reducing their usage and therefore also reducing antibiotic resistance.
A key intervention for preventing infections is practising good hygiene. However, Water Aid reports that 1 in 10 people around the world don’t have access to clean water. Over half of healthcare facilities worldwide are without access to clean water and sanitation, putting millions of lives at risk of infections, and contributing to the rise of antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’.
Dr Katy Thomson, Scientific lead for BARNARDS, an IOI study investigating the burden of AMR on neonates in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), said:
Handwashing is crucial within both community and healthcare settings to reduce rates of infections. Importantly in hospitals, where patients are vulnerable to infections handwashing is a proven way to control the spread of infections. However, many LMICs have limited access to handwashing facilities, increasing infection rates. This issue is compounded by higher rates of drug-resistant bacterial infections in LMICs– meaning that antibiotics may ultimately fail to treat a drug-resistant infection. Preventing infections, via methods such as handwashing where possible is always the best option.
Learn more about BARNARDS here.