The Urgency of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a growing global crisis, as highlighted by the United Nations declaring it the greatest and most urgent risk in 2016. Currently, about 700,000 deaths occur annually due to drug-resistant infections, a figure that could escalate to 10 million by 2050 if the situation remains unaddressed. This alarming trend indicates a potential return to an era where common infections could once again become fatal, severely impacting medical procedures like hip replacements. The misuse and overprescription of antibiotics have accelerated the evolution of resistant bacteria, necessitating immediate solutions to combat this impending health threat.