The rise of antibiotic-resistant infections in England could put millions of people at risk and bring back drugs "in the dark age"

Millions of routine operations could be life-threatening, experts warned, as a resurgence of drug-resistant bacterial infections could roll back medicine to the "dark age".

According to Public Health England (PHE), too many people risk being taken with antibiotics when they themselves, their families and vulnerable members of the public.

In a new report, the health body said that bacterial blood infections that resist at least one major group of antibiotics increased by 35% in four years.

The data show that in 2013, when PHE issued the first warnings on antibiotic resistance, 12,250 resistant infections had been diagnosed, but that number had risen to 16,504 in 2017.

PHE calculated that if antibiotics became ineffective, three million operations and cancer treatments would threaten the patient's life.

Some surgeries and cancer treatments require antibiotics to prevent infections, including caesareans and hip and knee replacements.

The head professor of England, Professor Sally Davies, warned that "without quick action to reduce infections, we risk putting drugs back into the dark age."

PHE stated that antibiotics are essential for treating serious bacterial infections, but that drugs are frequently used where they will have no effect.

The report suggests that over one-third (38%) of people who seek medical attention for a cough, flu or throat infection, ear, sinus or chest expect to receive an antibiotic.

But both colds and flu are caused by viruses that are not affected by antibiotics, and in most cases these infections improve with rest.

"It is worrisome that in the not-too-distant future, more cancer patients, mothers who have had caesareans and patients undergoing other surgery may lose their lives if antibiotics fail." not to prevent infections, "said PHE Medical Director Professor Paul Cosford.

"We need to preserve antibiotics when we really need them and we invite the public to join us in fighting antibiotic resistance by listening to the advice of your doctor, pharmacist or nurse and taking antibiotics only when it is necessary."

Dame Sally added, "Without a quick action to reduce infections, we risk putting drugs back into the dark era – at an age where common procedures we take for granted could become too dangerous for treatable conditions. become a threat to life. "

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, President of the Royal College of GPs, said: "We need to reach a stage where antibiotics are not seen as a miracle cure for all diseases or as a" just in case "relief solution – and patients should understand that if their doctor does not prescribe antibiotics, it is because they sincerely believe that they are not the most appropriate treatment. "

The campaign was launched after a powerful group of MPs had implored the government to put antimicrobial resistance back on its main agenda.

The health selection committee urged ministers to look at the issue after hinting that antimicrobial resistance is no longer a top priority for the government, it's one of the "top five issues" From David Cameron.

Additional reports by PA