AMA Report – Antimicrobial Resistance: The Silent Pandemic
In a new report released for World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, the Australian Medical Association notes that resistance to super bugs and other antimicrobials has become an existential threat which must be addressed.
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most serious global One Health threats of the 21st century, linking the interests, concerns and efforts of human health, animal health, and environmental health. Documented in almost all regions of the world, antimicrobial resistance is considered by many as the silent global pandemic that will undermine healthcare systems and food safety and supply, and result in millions of deaths.
AMA President Professor Steve Robson said resistance to antimicrobials, including antibiotics, was being accelerated through globalisation, overprescribing in the human health and animal health industries, climate change, and the lack of progress in developing new effective drugs.
He said the world, including Australia, was heading for the medical dark ages if the problem was not addressed, with antimicrobial resistance set to become a leading cause of death by 2050.
“Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most serious global health threats of the 21st century, documented in almost all regions of the world. Many consider it to be a silent global pandemic that will undermine healthcare systems and food safety and supply, and result in millions of deaths.”
Antibiotic resistance is one of the leading causes of death due to non-communicable disease globally, associated with almost 5 million deaths in 2019, with studies suggesting it could be responsible for 50 million deaths each year by 2050.
“It’s critical we address this, as it adds a significant burden to our already overstretched health system. Here in Australia, it’s estimated that antibiotic resistant infections add an additional $10,000 to the cost of treatment,” said Professor Robson.
Professor Robson said the Federal Government now had an opportunity to work with the scientific and medical research community to combat super bugs through the establishment of a new Centre for Disease Control.
You can read our report Antimicrobial Resistance: The Silent Pandemic here.
