The invisible pandemic: Antimicrobial resistance

In 2019 the threat posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and particularly multi-drug resistant bacteria, was widely seen as the foremost infectious threat to mankind on a global level and has been termed the ‘Invisible pandemic’ by the World Health Organisation (WHO).¹

Estimates stated that AMR could be responsible for 10 million deaths per year by 2050 if left unchecked, but the emergence and rapid spread of COVID-19 has increased the threat substantially as it has placed huge strains on the national health service and medical and social care systems around the world.²

Data from COVID-19 cases, mostly in Asia, found that more than 70% of patients received antimicrobial treatment, despite less than 10% having bacterial coinfections. The same study also found frequent use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, the overuse of which can further stimulate AMR.³