What is antimicrobial resistance? Why resistance to drugs is now a leading cause of death

More than 1.2 million people died worldwide in 2019 from infections caused by bacteria resistant to antibiotics, the largest study of the issue to date has found.

But what is antimicrobial resistance and why is resistance to drugs now a leading cause of death?

Here’s what you need to know.

What is antimicrobial resistance?

The overuse of antibiotics in recent years for trivial infections means they are becoming less effective against serious infections, with people dying from common, previously treatable infections because the bacteria that cause them have become resistant to treatment.

Abbas Kanani, a pharmacist at Chemist Click, said: “Antibiotic resistance means that bacteria do not respond to antibiotics, as they have adapted in such a way that antibiotics cannot kill them.

“Antibiotic resistance is caused by overuse and improper use of antibiotics,” he added.

“The more we use antibiotics, the higher the chances of bacteria developing resistance to the antibiotic. Wrongly using antibiotics will also cause resistance. For example, taking the incorrect antibiotics for a short period of time will damage other bacteria, giving resistance strains a competitive advantage, encouraging them to multiply and spread.”

He said that in order to prevent antibiotic resistance you should only use them when they have been prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist, use them as directed, do not share antibiotics, do not use antibiotics that you have find lying around if you feel unwell and practice good hygiene.

UK health officials recently warned antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was a "hidden pandemic" that could emerge in the wake of the Covid pandemic, unless antibiotics were responsibly prescribed.

The estimate of global deaths from AMR, which was published in the Lancet, is based on an analysis of 204 countries by a team of international researchers.

They calculate up to five million people died in 2019 from illnesses in which AMR played a role, with this being on top of the 1.2 million deaths it caused directly.

The new report also says that poorer countries are worst affected, but antimicrobial resistance threatens everyone’s health.

Most of the deaths from AMR were caused by lower respiratory infections, including pneumonia, and bloodstream infections, which can lead to sepsis.

MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) was particularly deadly, with E. coli, and several other bacteria also linked to high levels of drug resistance.

Using patient records from hospitals, studies and other data sources, the researchers said that young children are at most risk, with about one in five deaths linked to AMR being among the under-fives.

Urgent investment in new drugs and using current ones more wisely are recommended to protect against AMR.

What is the situation in the UK?

The NHs said that antibiotics are no longer routinely used to treat infections because:

• many infections are caused by viruses, so antibiotics are not effective
• antibiotics are often unlikely to speed up the healing process and can cause side effects
• the more antibiotics are used to treat trivial conditions, the more likely they are to become ineffective for treating more serious conditions

The NHS website said: “Both the NHS and health organisations across the world are trying to reduce the use of antibiotics, especially for health problems that are not serious.”

For example, antibiotics are no longer routinely used to treat:

• chest infections
• ear infections in children
• sore throats