The Global Threat: Tackling Antibiotic Resistance in a Changing Climate
The spread of drug-resistant superbugs, known as antimicrobial resistance (AMR), is being exacerbated by climate change, making it harder to combat this global health crisis. The World Health Organization has declared AMR as one of the top 10 global threats to human health, with an estimated 1.3 million deaths annually due to resistant pathogens. Climate change contributes to the spread of AMR by increasing the transmission of infectious diseases, disrupting extreme weather events, and creating favorable conditions for bugs to develop resistance. Urgent action is needed to address the AMR diagnostics pipeline, which is currently broken and lacks economic viability for investment in antibiotics and their development. Policymakers and industry leaders must recognize the association between the climate crisis and AMR and prioritize efforts to combat this silent pandemic.