Giving Compass' Take:

• Kate Dodson reports that fears over antimicrobial resistance have grown over the years, but the overuse of antibiotics for humans and livestock hasn't slowed. Now, the reality of drug-resistant diseases is upon us. 

• How can policy changes be implemented to slow the progress of drug resistance? How can philanthropy best fund research of new, alternative treatments?

• Find out why tackling poor-quality medicines is key to preventing antimicrobial resistance.

In March, British health authorities announced diagnosing a man with the first-ever case of gonorrhea untreatable by two front-line antibiotics – a worrisome scenario that the World Health Organization (WHO) warned about last year. This is grave news in the global fight against diseases that don’t respond to conventional antibiotic treatment, described collectively as antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Inappropriate use of precious antibiotics in people and livestock has accelerated the rise of drug-resistant infections – so-called superbugs – jeopardizing global health by making formerly harmless ailments potentially deadly.

AMR, one of the most complex and potentially devastating health and economic threats of our time, kills 700,000 people each year. Without collective global commitment, it has the potential to kill up to 10 million people a year within a generation.

At the same time, a recent study revealed that antibiotic use in low- and middle-income countries is increasing: More people than ever are using antibiotics. Expanded access to critical medication is good news for communities that have lacked drug access; equal access to care and treatment is a hallmark of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, increased access makes responsible stewardship of these medications more important than ever.

Read the full article on antimicrobial resistance by Kate Dodson at United Nations Foundation.