Report predicts sharp increase in deaths from drug-resistant infections by 2050

In a forecast that threatens to unravel decades of medical progress, a new global study predicts that antibiotic-resistant infections could claim more than 39 million lives by 2050, potentially plunging the world into a post-antibiotic era.

The findings highlight that AMR (antimicrobial resistance) has been a significant global health threat for decades and that this threat is growing. “Understanding how trends in AMR deaths have changed over time, and how they are likely to shift in future, is vital to make informed decisions to help save lives,” he added.

Demographic Shift in Antibiotic Resistance

The report highlights a demographic shift. While mortality rates from antibiotic-resistant infections among children under 5 have declined, older adults are increasingly contracting more superbugs. The older adult population, particularly those with multiple underlying health conditions, is at heightened risk as antibiotic efficacy wanes.

However, while seniors are anticipated to be the most affected, the problem of AMR affects everyone, Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, told The Epoch Times.