Of . – 12.9.2022 14:41 (act. 12.9.2022 14:41)
The WHO is currently concerned about the rise of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. ©APA/HANS PUNZ (subject)
The World Health Organization (WHO) is deeply concerned about the increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics.
“Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat to both public health and the economy,” said Catharina van Weezenbeek, WHO expert. The WHO estimates that 1.3 million people die every year because antibiotics do not work on their infections. She presented her new report on Friday in Geneva.
WHO is extremely concerned about antibiotic resistance
The EU health authority ECDC recently reported that more than 35,000 people die every year in the European Economic Area due to antibiotic resistance. The health consequences are comparable to those of flu, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS put together, the agency said.
Increased number of bloodstream infections caused by resistant germs
From 2017 to 2021, the number of bloodstream infections caused by resistant Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp and resistant gonorrhea bacteria increased by at least 15% worldwide, according to the current WHO report. It is possible that this is also due to the frequent use of antibiotics in the context of the corona pandemic.
Partially high resistance values of about 50 percent in bacteria
In the case of bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter spp., which frequently cause bloodstream infections in hospitals, high resistance values of around 50% to commonly used agents have been reported, WHO reported. They would have to be treated with the strongest antibiotics, but according to federal state reports, 8% of Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria are already resistant to this.
WHO also emphasizes that better data are needed. In some countries, reports only come from a few highly specialized clinics, which of course only treat the most severe cases. Therefore, the image may be distorted.
WHO database receives reports from 127 countries
127 countries reported to the WHO database. Until now, China has not been one of them. Beijing was said to be in talks. Laboratories and diagnostic tools are lacking in many poorer countries, according to the WHO. This creates pressure on doctors and clinics to use the latest and strongest means without a clear diagnosis, even if this isn’t necessary, van Weezenbeek said. Even in his country of origin, the Netherlands, patients often demand the most modern antibiotics without any indication for their use.
WHO sees glimmer of hope in swift action
The WHO sees a glimmer of hope if action is taken quickly, as WHO expert Carmem Pessoa-Silva said: The resistance of bacteria to agents that are currently used as a “last resort” is still low. If unnecessary and incorrect applications were stopped, they could remain effective longer. But action must be taken now, not in five years. It is also necessary to develop new classes of antibiotics.
Bacteria often circulate in hospitals
In hospitals, in particular, bacteria often circulate against which almost no medicine is effective. Experts speak of antibiotic resistance when patients do not react to them, that is, when disease-causing bacteria are not destroyed. Pathogens are called multidrug-resistant, against which many or all of the available antibiotics are no longer effective.