Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is emerging as a major global health threat, as highlighted by Paul Murray (pictured), CEO of Life & Health Reinsurance at Swiss Re.
While COVID-19 has receded from the forefront of many people’s minds, its effects on health and mortality are still being felt in countries like the US and UK. However, AMR, referred to by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “the silent pandemic,” poses a significant and less visible risk.
According to Swiss Re’s recent report, excess mortality linked to the COVID-19 pandemic may persist for up to a decade, while AMR continues to claim lives steadily.
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites adapt over time, rendering previously effective treatments ineffective. Murray noted that AMR is quietly becoming a global health crisis, yet remains under-addressed.
On September 26, the United Nations General Assembly will hold a high-level meeting on AMR, aiming to shine a spotlight on the issue and establish actionable targets to mitigate its impacts.
Murray attributes the rise of AMR to the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in both humans and animals. Swiss Re Institute’s report, “Antimicrobial Resistance: A Silent Threat to Our Future,” reinforces this point, emphasizing how the pandemic exacerbated the issue.
The WHO found that while only 8% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients had bacterial co-infections, 75% were treated with antibiotics, promoting the spread of resistant bacteria without delivering much benefit to patients.
The implications of failing to address AMR are serious. A study estimates that by mid-century, AMR could be responsible for 1.91 million annual deaths and contribute to 8.2 million deaths worldwide
Despite this, the study reports a 50% decline in AMR-related mortality for children under five years old since the 1990s, driven by improvements in sanitation infrastructure. Murray views this as an example of the value of investing in preventive measures, while warning that older populations remain at heightened risk.
Murray points out that AMR disproportionately impacts vulnerable regions. Death rates linked to AMR in India are 50% higher than those in Europe or the US, while in sub-Saharan Africa, these rates are double those of developed countries. As the global population continues to grow, particularly in regions where health systems are under strain, AMR has the potential to become a larger catastrophe.
In addition to overuse of antibiotics, Murray identifies climate change as an accelerating factor for AMR. Warmer temperatures create conditions that facilitate the spread of drug-resistant microbes, while floods and extreme weather events can disrupt sanitation systems, leading to the contamination of water sources with resistant pathogens.
Murray also highlights concerns about AMR’s spread through conflict zones, noting that in Ukraine, the war has intensified the detection of multidrug-resistant organisms, further straining an already overstressed healthcare system.
Swiss Re noted that it is contributing to the fight against AMR through its participation in a public-private consortium that includes pharmaceutical companies, reinsurers, and researchers working to develop digital tools to combat AMR.
Murray called for more such initiatives, emphasizing the importance of stewardship programs that encourage the responsible use of antimicrobials to preserve the effectiveness of existing medications.
He stressed the need for nations to work together in addressing this challenge, much like the global response to COVID-19, to prevent AMR from becoming an even more formidable threat.
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