Preparedness for a creeping health crisis - the case of antibiotic resistance
Some health crises occur suddenly and intensely, for example in the event of an armed attack or an earthquake. Others come more stealthily. One of the clearest and most worrying examples of an insidious health crisis is antibiotic resistance, which will be addressed at a high-level meeting of the United Nations in September.
Antibiotic resistance is often referred to as the "silent pandemic" and means that bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics. This can lead to infections becoming more difficult or impossible to cure. There are several causes of antibiotic resistance, but overuse of antibiotics in both animals and humans contributes greatly.
A global health crisis with potentially catastrophic consequences
Antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis, as it affects the spread of infection and the effective treatment of infectious diseases in both humans and animals. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes antibiotic resistance, or antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as "one of the main threats to global public health and development".
"Ultimately, we risk a situation where antibiotics are no longer effective in treating seriously ill people, or carrying out necessary operations or cancer treatments in a safe way," says Anna Zorzet, strategic process manager at the Centre for Health Crises and former director of ReAct - Action on Antibiotic Resistance.
The high-level meeting is part of an opportunity to act further on antibiotic resistance, which the world cannot afford to miss. According to a study published in The Lancet on September 16, 2024, antibiotic resistance risks leading to nearly 40 million deaths globally from today to 2050. The most vulnerable such as young children, the elderly and those living in poverty will be the most vulnerable.
The trend can be reversed with the right preparedness
At the same time, there is hope. If treatment of infections and proper access to antibiotics can be ensured, 92 million deaths could be avoided in the next twenty-five years, according to the same study.
It is therefore not only about reducing the use of antibiotics, but also about addressing root causes such as lack of clean water, access to care and the development of new antibiotics.
"Antibiotic resistance is a problem that exists now and that we need to deal with now. In parallel, we also need to be prepared for how antibiotic resistance will affect global health in the long and short term. Hopefully, the high-level meeting will be the starting point for renewed and strengthened work among all the countries of the world," says Anna Zorzet.
Antibiotic resistance is a clear and worrying example of an insidious health crisis, which is already claiming lives today and has the potential to become an acute threat over time. It also serves as an example of how preparedness for health crises must be understood in a broad and inclusive perspective.
The Centre for Health Crises works from an all-hazards perspective, which means that health threats can look different (pandemics, natural disasters, extreme weather) but often affect health systems in similar ways and require a multi-sectoral response.