Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as one of the principal public health problems of the 21st century that threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi which are no longer susceptible to the common antimicrobials used to treat them. Antibiotic resistance in particular is of major concern. “Global crisis”, “return to medical dark ages”, “antibiotic apocalypse” are some of the phrases being used by prominent scientists, physicians, and world leaders to emphasise the catastrophic impact that antibiotic resistance will have on human health and the global economy.
In 2014, Lord Jim O’Neill published a review commissioned by the United Kingdom government, entitled “Antimicrobial Resistance: Tackling a crisis for the health and wealth of nations” (the AMR Review). The review estimated that if left unchecked, by 2050, AMR could result in over 10 million deaths annually and over $100 trillion of lost global output! To put this into perspective, this damage would be similar to, and likely worse than that caused by the great economic and financial recessions of modern history.