A microbial X-factor with Charles Darwin chairing the judges
A new UN report concludes bacteria around the globe are evolving resistance to antibiotics, leaving us facing a “major threat to public health.”
A bit like a worldwide microbial X-factor with Charles Darwin chairing the judges, it finds overuse or misuse of antibiotics are causing strains of almost untreatable bacteria to emerge in nearly every corner of the globe.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) report reveals bacteria are gaining the edge over the drugs of “last resort” we rely on to fight infections. It also finds that work to spot resistance evolving and then contain it is woefully inadequate.
“Without urgent coordinated action from many stakeholders, the world is headed for a post-antibiotic era in which common infections an minor injuries which have been treatable for decades,” said Dr Keiji Fukada, the WHO assistant director general for health security.
The report focuses on nine key bacteria/drug combinations and finds evidence of resistance in all six global regions defined by the UN.
In Europe strains of Neisseria gonorrhoea which cause the eponymous sexually transmitted disease have emerged that are almost untreatable with any antibiotics.
In the Eastern Mediterranean and the Americas drug resistant E.coli are a particular concern. A pneumonia-causing bacterium called Klebsiella is also increasingly drug-resistant. In some parts of the Americas as many as 90 per cent of Staphylococcus aureus are resistant to methicillin drugs – (better know as MRSA).
Data from Africa was patchy, but the report estimates in some settings 80 per cent of Staph. aureus are MRSA.
“This report emphasises the fact drug resistance is one of the greatest threats facing humanity,” said Prof Neil Woodford, head of antimicrobial resistance at Public Health England.
It starkly defines the problem, but also highlights one of the main challenges of doing anything about it. In compiling the study its authors found there is no coordinated way of measuring antibiotic resistance around the world, nor are there efforts to control the use of antibiotics to prevent it occurring.
Read more: Superbugs, antibiotics and me – the key questions
The report calls for tougher rules on antibiotic prescribing by doctors. It also demands more research into new tests to quickly diagnose resistant bugs and design new antibiotics to control them.
But the action Dr Fukeda calls for will be hard to deliver.
In many countries health systems are developing fast — requiring use of antibiotics. The sudden increase in use, often without strict prescribing rule is fuelling resistance.
The pharmaceutical industry has also been slow to develop new classes of antibiotics. For some infections no new drugs have become available for decades.
Given traditionally low profits from antibiotics, pharma companies have generally avoided investing heavily in them.
Although it’s likely the importance of antibiotics will be taken a lot more seriously once they become increasingly ineffective at keeping us alive.
WHO’s list of drug resistant bacteria:
Escherichia coli (E.coli): urinary tract and blood stream infections.
Klebsiella pneumonia: pneumonia, urinary tract and blood stream infections
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): wound and blood stream infections
Streptococcus pneumonia: pneumonia, meningitis, ear infections
Nontyphoidal salmonella: diarrhoea
Neisseria gonorrhoea: gonorrhoea
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