The pandemic has increased it microbial resistance to antibioticsmaking some formulations less effective, predicted to result in death before 10 million people 2050 from diseases that were once curable.

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, antimicrobial resistance, in which microbes no longer respond to common drugs such as antibiotics, was a major concern for public health organizations and medical professionals.

In 2019, the latest year for which data are available, antimicrobial resistance led to 4.95 million deaths worldwide, making it the third leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease and cancer.

After three years with her COVID-19Due to the rampant and inappropriate use of antibiotics as a result of some treatment protocols, public health and health experts say that antimicrobial resistance is significantly worsening in many countries, according to a publication in a reputable scientific journal. Scientific American.

This is worrisome as the bacteria that cause common blood, lung and urinary tract infections, not to mention well-known diseases that still exist in countries with lower living standards, such as typhoid fever and tuberculosis, are becoming increasingly resistant to existing medicines.

At the same time, the pharmaceutical industry lacks sufficient interest in the development of antibiotics, since the market for them is unprofitable.

Until 10 million people they are predicted to be lost every year around the world until 2050 due to diseases that we once could cure, and 90% of these deaths will occur in low- and middle-income countries.

Antimicrobial resistance is itself a long-term pandemic that has been neglected. The coronavirus has heightened the urgent need to break the culture of liberal antibiotic use.

What must be done

What do the American scientists who signed the article point to, republished New York Timesis that we need to tighten the rules around prescribing these drugs and retrain health care workers around the world to be more strict in their use of antibiotics.

In addition, we need to improve hygiene and sanitation to prevent the spread of disease-causing bacteria. We need better diagnostics and more reliable vaccination programs.

We’re running out of options, they say, and the infectious bacteria that plagues so many people mostly in third world countries is poised to win the battle we once fought.

Source: The New York Times, Scientific American.