Superbug crisis could claim 40 million lives by 2050, study warns

A recent study published in *The Lancet* has raised significant concerns about the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Researchers from the Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance Project and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation warn that nearly 40 million people could die from antibiotic-resistant infections between now and 2050. The study projects that deaths from AMR could increase by 70% within this timeframe if effective measures are not implemented to combat the issue. This alarming forecast underscores the urgent need for strategies to address AMR and protect public health.

The study highlights that older adults are particularly vulnerable to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with deaths from AMR rising by 80% among those aged 70 and older between 1990 and 2021. Dr. Chris Murray, the study's lead author, expressed concern that "we expect it to get worse," stressing the urgent need for increased focus on developing new antibiotics and implementing effective antibiotic stewardship strategies. This emphasis on proactive measures is crucial to mitigate the growing threat posed by AMR.

The study identified methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as the pathogen-drug combination with the largest increase in burden across all age groups. Dr. Steffanie Strathdee, associate dean of global health sciences at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, emphasized the need for alternative treatments to antibiotics, citing her personal experience with phage therapy, which successfully saved her husband's life after he contracted a superbug infection. This underscores the importance of exploring innovative solutions in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.