Drug-resistant infections could kill an extra 10 million people across the world every year by 2050 if they are not tackled. By this date they could also cost the world around $100 trillion in lost output: more than the size of the current world economy, and roughly equivalent to the world losing the output of the UK economy every year, for 35 years. This enormous human and economic cost was set out in the first paper published by the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance in December 2014.

If we fail to act, we are looking at an almost unthinkable scenario where antibiotics no longer work and we are cast back into the dark ages of medicine” – David Cameron, UK Prime Minister

The Review was established to produce analysis of the global problems of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and to propose concrete actions to tackle these internationally. They have so far published recommendations on the initial steps that the world could be taking towards solving this global problem; and first proposals of how governments around the world should act collectively to stimulate the development of new antibiotics.

More information: amr-review.org