Antibiotic apocalypse

could become a reality

Mankind is nearing a “post-antibiotic era”, scientists have warned after finding bacteria able to shrug off the drug of last resort, Colistin, raising the grim possibility of a future of untreatable infections

Deaths due to antimicrobial

resistance (AMR) per year

compared to other major

causes of death

10m

Level

by

2050

(est)*

8.2m

Resistant

strain, likely due

to overuse in farm

animals, found in

pigs, raw meat,

and 16 Chinese

patients

Chinese

Escherichia coli (E. coli):

and British scientists have found

strain resistant to Colistin

700,000

1.5m

1.4m

1.2m

130,000

120,000

60,000

AMR

Tetanus

Cholera

Measles

Road

accidents

Diarrhoea

Diabetes

Cancer

Breakdown of deaths attributable to AMR every year, by 2050*

Europe

390,000

North

America

317,000

Asia

4,730,000

Latin

America

392,000

Africa

4,150,000

Oceania

22,000

*If current trend is not altered

Sources: The Lancet, 2014 British government Review on Antimicrobial Resistance,

wire agencies. Picture: United States Department of Health and Human Services

© GRAPHIC NEWS

Antibiotic apocalypse

could become a reality

Mankind is nearing a “post-antibiotic era”, scientists have warned after finding bacteria able to shrug off the drug of last resort, Colistin, raising the grim possibility of a future of untreatable infections

Chinese and British

Escherichia coli (E. coli):

scientists have found strain resistant to Colistin

Deaths due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

per year compared to other major causes of death

Tetanus

60,000

Resistant

strain, likely due

to overuse in farm

animals, found in

pigs, raw meat,

and 16 Chinese

patients

Cholera

120,000

Measles

130,000

Road

accidents

1.2m

Diarrhoea

1.4m

Diabetes

1.5m

Cancer

8.2m

Level by

2050 (est)*

10m

700,000

AMR

Breakdown of deaths attributable

to AMR every year, by 2050*

North

America

317,000

Europe

390,000

Asia

4,730,000

Latin

America

392,000

Africa

4,150,000

Oceania

22,000

*If current trend is not altered

Sources: The Lancet, 2014 British government

Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, wire agencies

Picture: United States Department

of Health and Human Services

© GRAPHIC NEWS

Antibiotic

apocalypse

could become

a reality

Mankind is nearing a “post-antibiotic era”, scientists have warned after finding bacteria able to shrug off the drug of last resort, Colistin, raising the grim possibility of a future of untreatable infections

Chinese

Escherichia coli (E. coli):

and British scientists have found

strain resistant to Colistin

Resistant strain, likely due

to overuse in farm animals,

found in pigs, raw meat,

and 16 Chinese patients

Deaths due to antimicrobial

resistance (AMR) per year

compared to other major

causes of death

Tetanus

60,000

Cholera

120,000

Measles

130,000

Road

accidents

1.2m

Diarrhoea

1.4m

Diabetes

1.5m

Cancer

8.2m

10m

700,000

AMR

Level by 2050 (est)*

Breakdown of deaths

attributable to AMR every year,

by 2050*

North

America

317,000

Europe

390,000

Asia

4,730,000

Latin

America

392,000

Africa

4,150,000

Oceania

22,000

*If current trend is not altered

Sources: The Lancet, 2014 British

government Review on Antimicrobial

Resistance, wire agencies

Picture: United States Department

of Health and Human Services

© GRAPHIC NEWS