THE LAST CENTURY has seen major gains in healthcare, and in life expectancy. But there is no guarantee of continuing improvement; the rise and rise of antimicrobial resistance has emerged as one of the most serious threats to public health.
Resistance is increasing all over the world, among bacteria, fungi and viruses. We are approaching the end of the age of antibiotics, anti-fungals are not far behind and the anti-viral drugs have never been particularly effective. Prior to 190, disease-causing microorganisms (pathogens) were the most important cause of illness and death; unless we take account now, we will go back to those dark times.
Overuse, misuse and counterfeit drugs have brought us to this place, and future prospects are worrying indeed. Many surgeries, for example, cannot be done without effective antibiotics.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE has been my own field of activity/research for the last 15 years; and it is obvious that current remedies are no longer working well enough.