Antibiotic apocalypse could become a reality
Mankind is nearing a "post-antibiotic era", scientists have warned after finding bacteria able to shrug off the drug of last resort, Colistin, raising the grim possibility of a future of untreatable infections
Deaths due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) per
year compared to other
major causes of death
10m
Level
by
2050
(est)*
8.2m
Resistant
strain, likely due
to overuse in farm
animals, found in
pigs, raw meat,
and 16 Chinese
patients
Chinese
Escherichia coli (E. coli):
and British scientists have found
strain resistant to Colistin
700,000
1.5m
1.4m
1.2m
130,000
120,000
60,000
AMR
Tetanus
Cholera
Measles
Road
accidents
Diarrhoea
Diabetes
Cancer
Breakdown of deaths attributable to AMR every year, by 2050*
Europe
390,000
North
America
317,000
Asia
4,730,000
Latin
America
392,000
Africa
4,150,000
Oceania
22,000
*If current trend is not altered
Sources: The Lancet, 2014 British government Review on Antimicrobial Resistance,
© GRAPHIC NEWS
Antibiotic apocalypse could become a reality
Mankind is nearing a "post-antibiotic era", scientists have warned after finding bacteria able to shrug off the drug of last resort, Colistin, raising the grim possibility of a future of untreatable infections
Chinese and British
Escherichia coli (E. coli):
scientists have found strain resistant to Colistin
Deaths due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) per year compared to other major causes of death
Tetanus
60,000
Resistant
strain, likely due
to overuse in farm
animals, found in
pigs, raw meat,
and 16 Chinese
patients
Cholera
120,000
Measles
130,000
Road
accidents
1.2m
Diarrhoea
1.4m
Diabetes
1.5m
Cancer
8.2m
Level by
2050 (est)*
10m
700,000
AMR
Breakdown of deaths attributable to AMR every year, by 2050*
North
America
317,000
Europe
390,000
Asia
4,730,000
Latin
America
392,000
Africa
4,150,000
Oceania
22,000
*If current trend is not altered
Sources: The Lancet, 2014 British government Review on Antimicrobial Resistance,
© GRAPHIC NEWS
Antibiotic apocalypse could become a reality
Mankind is nearing a "post-antibiotic era", scientists have warned after finding bacteria able to shrug off the drug of last resort, Colistin, raising the grim possibility of a future of untreatable infections
Chinese
Escherichia coli (E. coli):
and British scientists have found
strain resistant to Colistin
Resistant strain, likely due
to overuse in farm animals,
found in pigs, raw meat,
and 16 Chinese patients
Deaths due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) per year compared to other major causes of death
Tetanus
60,000
Cholera
120,000
Measles
130,000
Road
accidents
1.2m
Diarrhoea
1.4m
Diabetes
1.5m
Cancer
8.2m
10m
700,000
AMR
Level by 2050 (est)*
Breakdown of deaths attributable to AMR every year, by 2050*
North
America
317,000
Europe
390,000
Asia
4,730,000
Latin
America
392,000
Africa
4,150,000
Oceania
22,000
*If current trend is not altered
Sources: The Lancet, 2014 British government Review on Antimicrobial Resistance,
© GRAPHIC NEWS
HEALTH
Antibiotic apocalypse
November 19, 2015 - Mankind is nearing a “post-antibiotic era”, scientists have warned after finding bacteria able to shrug off the drug of last resort, Colistin, raising the grim possibility of a future of untreatable infections.