Key points from article :
Superbugs caused 4.95 million deaths, with 1.27 million deaths attributable to bacterial AMR, the third-largest cause of death in 2019.
Number of deaths from antibiotic resistance had exceeded the number of fatalities caused by HIV/AIDS and malaria.
Some estimates said antimicrobial resistance (AMR) could kill 10 million people per year by 2050.
Highest death rates were noted in Western sub-Saharan Africa and some lower-middle-income countries (LMICs).
The researchers, including Christopher Murray, estimated the disease burden for 23 pathogens and 88 pathogen–drug combinations.
Leading pathogens - Escherichia coli, followed by Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Expanding the analysis to more pathogen–drug combinations – would increase the disease burden from AMR.
Combatting the AMR scourge requires both global action and nationally tailored responses.
Study published in The Lancet journal.
