Ending the major threat of drug-resistant mortal superbugs for $ 2 per person

Ending deadly infection caused by "superbugs", killing millions of people around the world, would cost only $ 2 per person per year, said Wednesday the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Describing drug resistance as "one of the greatest threats to modern medicine", the OECD said that if nothing were done, superbugs could kill some 2.4 million people in Europe, America North and Australia over the next 30 years.

The problem of drug resistance to infectious bacteria has been a feature of medicine since the discovery of the first antibiotic, penicillin, in 1928. Often called antimicrobial resistance or AMR, the problem has become worse in recent years, as bacteria resistant to multiple drugs developed. and drug manufacturers have reduced their investments in this area.

The World Health Organization has warned that unless something radical is done, a post-antibiotic era – where basic health care is life-threatening because of the risk of infection during routine operations – could enter this century.

A 2014 report backed by the British government estimated that by 2050, the problem could kill an additional 10 million people a year and cost up to $ 100 trillion when it does not happen. was not mastered.

In a report, the OECD said "a short-term investment to stop the high tide would save lives and save money".

He was proposing a "five-part aggression" against AMR, including promoting better hygiene, ending antibiotic prescriptions, quickly testing patients to make sure they get the right medication for the disease. infections, delay the prescription of antibiotics and carry out campaigns in the media.

The report found grounds for cautious optimism, as average growth in drug resistance slowed across OECD countries, adding that there were "serious grounds for concern".

In all OECD countries, resistance to second- and third-line antibiotics – usually powerful drugs that are a last line of defense against infection – is expected to be 70% higher in 2030 than RAM of 2005.

In low- and middle-income countries, drug resistance is high and is expected to grow rapidly. In Brazil, Indonesia and Russia, for example, 40-60% of infections are already resistant to drugs, compared to an average of 17% in OECD countries, and antimicrobial resistance rates are expected to increase 4-7 times. faster than the OECD average. now and 2050.

Tim Jinks, Drug Resistance Expert at the Wellcome Trust Global Health Charity, said the OECD report showed "how simple, cost-effective surveillance, prevention and control methods could save lives" .

The superbugs are "a fundamental threat to global health and development," he said, and "investing to tackle the problem now will save lives and generate significant benefits for the world." # 39; future. "

(Edited by Marie-Louise Gumuchian)