Some health crises occur suddenly and intensely, for example as a result of an armed attack or an earthquake, while others arrive creeping, slower but definitive and inexorably. It can be easy to forget about the creeping health crises and not actively work on preparing for them too, even though it is equally important. One of the clearest, and most worrying, examples of a creeping health crisis is antibiotic resistance, which will be discussed at a high-level meeting at the UN on 26 September.
Often referred to as the 'silent pandemic', antibiotic resistance is when bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics. This can lead to infections becoming more difficult or impossible to cure. There are many causes of antibiotic resistance, but overuse of antibiotics in both animals and humans is a major contributor.
A global health crisis with potentially catastrophic consequences
Antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis, as it affects the spread and effective treatment of infectious diseases in both humans and animals. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls antibiotic resistance, or antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as it is also called, "one of the major threats to global public health and development".
- "Ultimately, we risk ending up with a situation where antibiotics are no longer effective in treating severely ill people, or performing necessary surgeries or cancer treatments safely," says Anna Zorzet, Strategic Process Leader at the Centre for Health Crises and former Director of ReAct - Action on Antibiotic Resistance.
The UN High Level Meeting on Antibiotic Resistance starts on 26 September. It is partly a follow-up to the first high-level meeting on the subject held in 2016. According to the UN, the meeting is "an important opportunity for world leaders to collectively address the imminent threat posed by AMR to global health, food security, and towards achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals".
The high-level meeting is part of an opportunity to act further on antimicrobial resistance, which the world cannot afford to miss. According to a study published in The Lancet on 16 September 2024, antibiotic resistance risks leading to nearly 40 million deaths globally between now and 2050. The most vulnerable, such as young children, the elderly, and those living in poverty, will be most at risk.
The trend can be reversed with proper preparedness and management
At the same time, there is hope; if treatment of infections and proper access to antibiotics can be ensured, 92 million deaths could be avoided over the next twenty-five years, according to the same study. Moreover, it is not just about reducing antibiotic use, but also addressing root causes such as lack of clean water, access to healthcare and the development of new antibiotics.
- "Antibiotic resistance is a problem that exists now and that we need to address now. In parallel, we also need to be prepared for the impact of antibiotic resistance on global health in the long and short term. Hopefully, the high-level meeting will be the starting point for renewed and strengthened efforts among all countries in the world," says Anna.
