Antibiotics 'no longer a renewable source'
World stands on brink of global pandemic of antibiotic resistance, scientists warn
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Friday, 19, Sep 2008 09:24
The world stands on the brink of a global pandemic of antibiotic resistance, scientists have warned.
Researchers from Sweden say a "concerted" worldwide response is needed to avoid a return to the pre-antibiotic era, which would threaten major surgeries, organ transplantations and cancer chemotherapies.
An editorial on bmj.com from Professor Otto Cars and colleagues from Uppsala University notes that existing antibiotics are losing their effect at an alarming pace, while the development of new antibiotics is declining.
All antibiotic use 'uses up' some of the effectiveness of that antibiotic, diminishing the ability to use it in the future, write the authors, and antibiotics can no longer be considered as a renewable source.
More than a dozen new classes of antibiotics were developed between 1930 and 1970, but only two new classes have been developed since then.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the most important disease threat in Europe is from micro-organisms that have become resistant to antibiotics.
Antibiotics are over prescribed, illegally sold over the counter and self medication with leftover medicines is commonplace, the authors write, adding that there are "few incentives" to developing new antibiotics.
There is an urgent need to develop new antibacterials, the editorial states, and the responsibility lies with respective national governments.