“The world is headed for a post-antibiotic era, in which common infections and minor injuries which have been treatable for decades can once again kill”

Dr. Keiji Fukuda

said : Dr. Keiji Fukuda, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Health Security, in WHO's recent press release.

A new report by WHO–its first to look at antimicrobial resistance, including antibiotic resistance, globally–reveals that this serious threat is no longer a prediction for the future, it is happening right now in every region of the world and has the potential to affect anyone, of any age, in any country. Antibiotic resistance–when bacteria change so antibiotics no longer work in people who need them to treat infections–is now a major threat to public health.

“Without urgent, coordinated action by many stakeholders, the world is headed for a post-antibiotic era, in which common infections and minor injuries which have been treatable for decades can once again kill,” says Dr Keiji Fukuda, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Health Security. “Effective antibiotics have been one of the pillars allowing us to live longer, live healthier, and benefit from modern medicine. Unless we take significant actions to improve efforts to prevent infections and also change how we produce, prescribe and use antibiotics, the world will lose more and more of these global public health goods and the implications will be devastating.”

WHO HQ main building, Geneva

According to the WHO report, 

People can help tackle resistance by :

• using antibiotics only when prescribed by a doctor;
• completing the full prescription, even if they feel better;
• never sharing antibiotics with others or using leftover prescriptions.

Health workers and pharmacists can help tackle resistance by :

• enhancing infection prevention and control;
• only prescribing and dispensing antibiotics when they are truly needed;
• prescribing and dispensing the right antibiotic(s) to treat the illness.

Policymakers can help tackle resistance by :

• strengthening resistance tracking and laboratory capacity;
• regulating and promoting appropriate use of medicines.

Policymakers and industry can help tackle resistance by :

• fostering innovation and research and development of new tools;
• promoting cooperation and information sharing among all stakeholders.

The full report may be found here.