The Lancet warns of 'overlooked pandemic of antimicrobial resistance' in new study

The medical journal highlights antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to be a 'leading cause of death around the world'.

In a new study published this week, The Lancet analysed deaths associated with bacterial AMR for 23 pathogens and 88 pathogen–drug combinations in 204 countries and territories in 2019.

The findings estimate there were 4·95 million deaths in 2019 directly attributable to resistance, nearly the same as global HIV deaths and malaria deaths combined, second only to mortality from COVID-19 and tuberculosis in terms of global deaths from infectious diseases.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when changes in bacteria cause the drugs used to treat infections to become less effective, often through either misuse or overuse. 

This poses a great risk to future public health, and may create a scenario where once routine procedures become complex and dangerous. The WHO states that 'without effective antimicrobials for prevention and treatment of infections, medical procedures such as organ transplantation, cancer chemotherapy, diabetes management and major surgery become very high-risk.'1

The European Commission also estimates that AMR costs the EU €1.5 billion per year in healthcare costs and productivity losses.2

Innovation and action are needed to address the challenges of AMR. The Lancet states that 'spending needs to be directed to preventing infections in the first place, making sure existing antibiotics are used appropriately and judiciously, and to bringing new antibiotics to market. Health and political leaders at local, national, and international levels need to take seriously the importance of addressing AMR and the challenge of poor access to affordable, effective antibiotics.'3