of antibiotics in humans (treating viral infections) and livestock, alongside a decline in pharmaceutical research because chronic disease drugs are more profitable. The Impact:
Short-answer questions
E. The consequences of this trend are alarming. We are entering what the World Health Organization (WHO) has termed a "post-antibiotic era." In this scenario, common infections and minor injuries would once again become lethal. Routine surgeries, such as hip replacements or caesarean sections, would carry a high risk of mortality due to untreatable infections. Furthermore, modern medical treatments that suppress the immune system, such as chemotherapy for cancer, would become incredibly dangerous without effective antibiotics to protect patients from opportunistic infections. The economic impact is equally stark; the World Bank predicts that by 2050, antimicrobial resistance could cause a decline in global GDP comparable to the shock of the 2008 financial crisis. of antibiotics in humans (treating viral infections) and
The consequences of unchecked resistance are catastrophic. Common medical procedures that rely on preventative antibiotics – such as caesarean sections, hip replacements, and chemotherapy – could become too risky to perform. Simple infections from a scratch or a routine operation could once again become fatal. The WHO estimates that at least 700,000 people die each year from drug-resistant infections. If no action is taken, this figure is projected to reach 10 million per year by 2050, surpassing cancer as a leading cause of death. We are entering what the World Health Organization