Review Question

Resistance to antibiotic treatment is increasing globally, largely due to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in livestock and antimicrobials in human medicine. Drug-resistant infections cause more than half a million deaths annually, and the cumulative economic cost could reach $100 trillion between 2020 and 2050 because of productivity loss and the high cost of extended hospital stays or treatment. Based on a review of numerous articles and reports, antibiotic resistance (AMR) has significant and growing human and economic costs. Human Costs: AMR is a leading cause of death globally. In 2019, it was directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths and contributed to 4.95 million deaths.

Projections estimate that AMR could cause 39 million deaths between 2025 and 2050 if current trends continue, a number that surpasses the projected death toll from cancer.

The human toll is disproportionately higher in low- and middle-income countries.

Economic Costs: The economic burden of AMR is substantial, affecting healthcare systems, productivity, and the broader economy.

The direct healthcare costs of AMR were estimated at $66 billion annually and are projected to rise to $159 billion by 2050.

In a worst-case scenario, the global economy could shrink by $1.7 trillion by 2050 due to increased healthcare costs, reduced labor force participation, and lower productivity.

The World Bank has warned that the annual costs could be as large as those of the 2008 global financial crisis and would disproportionately impact low-income countries.

AMR also impacts the agricultural sector, as resistant infections in livestock can lead to significant financial losses.