Drug-Resistant Infections to Grow 70% by 2050

More than 39 million people will die by 2050 without better antibiotics and treatments, a report from the Lancet finds

A new analysis published this week in the Lancet predicts the scourge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), already a significant public health problem, particularly among the elderly, will kill 39 million people by 20250.

The sobering figures are in stark contrast to a UN Goal of reducing mortality from AMR by 2030. The analysis based its forecast by analyzing the growth of AMR between 1990 and 2021. Using mortality data and hospital records from 204 countries, researchers focused on 22 pathogens and 84 combinations of bacteria, along with drugs they are resistant to, and 11 diseases triggered by AMR, including blood infections and meningitis.

While the findings revealed fewer children under age 5 are dying from drug-resistant infections, they are soaring for those over age 70.

Regions with the highest predicted mortality rates include south Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and researchers said any campaigns to reduce AMR should prioritize low- and middle-income countries with the fewest resources.

To learn more about this report check out the story in Nature.