Drug-Resistant Superbugs Could Kill 39 Million by 2050, Study Warns

A new global analysis has predicted that drug-resistant superbugs could kill nearly 40 million people worldwide over the next 25 years unless urgent action is taken. The study, released on Monday, marks the first comprehensive research tracking the long-term global impact of superbugs and estimating future outcomes.

Superbugs, which are bacteria or pathogens resistant to antibiotics, have emerged as a growing threat to global health. According to the Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance (GRAM) study published in The Lancet, over a million people have died annually from antimicrobial resistance (AMR) between 1990 and 2021.

The study highlights that while deaths from superbugs in children under five have dropped by over 50% due to better infection control, infections are becoming harder to treat. Among the elderly, deaths have surged by 80%, reflecting the vulnerability of aging populations. Specifically, deaths from MRSA, a type of antibiotic-resistant staph infection, doubled to 130,000 by 2021 compared to 30 years ago.

If current trends continue, the researchers estimate that AMR-related deaths could rise by 67% to nearly two million per year by 2050. Furthermore, superbugs could contribute to 8.2 million more annual deaths, leading to a total of 169 million deaths in the next quarter-century.

However, the researchers also note that improving care for infections and better access to antimicrobial treatments could potentially save up to 92 million lives by 2050.

The findings come just ahead of a high-level United Nations meeting on antimicrobial resistance scheduled for September 26, which experts, including Jeremy Knox of the Wellcome Trust, describe as a critical moment in addressing the superbug crisis. Knox warned that rising AMR rates could undermine modern medicine, as routine medical interventions may become riskier if antibiotics lose their effectiveness.

Antimicrobial resistance is a natural process, but the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in humans, animals, and agriculture have accelerated the problem, posing a significant threat to global health systems.