If the situation continues to surge, up to 10 million AMR deaths could occur globally by 2050, warned the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on the occasion of World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week.

In recent years, the resistance of several pathogens to antibiotics (among other drugs) has been warned by scientists who mentioned pollution and climate change, influenza, dengue, non-communicable pathologies, fragile environments, Ebola, vaccines and HIV among major factors.

AMR occurs when microorganisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi) undergo changes and stop responding to certain drugs, which hinders the treatment of various diseases.

It is also a problem on a planetary scale because, like medicine, bacteria evolve and gain strength ahead of new drugs to which they were originally vulnerable.

Helicobacter pylori, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella are microorganisms with highest levels of resistance to several drugs, putting human health at risk.

Rafael Valdez, Director of Medical and Scientific Affairs for Anti-infectives at the U.S. Pfizer Latin America pharmaceutical company, pointed out that antimicrobial drugs are essential to protect people’s health, but their excessive or inadequate use jeopardizes their efficacy.

He said that the emergence and expansion of new resistant microorganisms, both in the region and worldwide, threatens the capacity of health systems to deal with common infections and can lead to prolonged illness, disability and even death.

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