People have been urged to ‘treat antibiotics with respect’ as there are concerns about deaths from conditions that should be treatable.
The number of people dying from infections resistant to antibiotics increased last year, with experts warning of a “concerning rise” in drugs used to tackle sepsis, for example, but not working.
Dame Jenny Harries, boss of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), warned that common ailments could one day become untreatable amid the superbug crisis.
It comes after figures showed the number of prescriptions for antibiotics has recently risen sharply after years of decline.
According to the UKHSA, 58,224 people in England had an antibiotic-resistant infection in 2022, an increase of four percent on 2021.
Figures show that the number of prescriptions for antibiotics has recently risen sharply, after years of decline. According to the UKHSA, 58,224 people in England had an antibiotic-resistant infection in 2022, an increase of four percent from 2021
Data released by UKHSA shows that antibiotic use in England declined between 2014 and 2020, with a sharp decline in 2020. However, this trend has reversed, with an 8.4 percent increase in prescriptions last year
As a result, approximately 2,202 people died, compared to 2,110 in the previous twelve months.
Data released by the agency shows that the use of antibiotics in England fell between 2014 and 2020, with a sharp decline in 2020.
However, this trend has reversed, with an 8.4 percent increase in the number of prescriptions last year.
Dr. Colin Brown, deputy director for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at UKHSA, attributed the decline in antibiotic-resistant infections from 2018 to the Covid pandemic and the changes it caused in people seeking healthcare and spreading infections.
He added: ‘Unfortunately, in 2022 we have seen another increase in antibiotic-resistant infections compared to what we have seen before.
‘We have not yet made a dent in the proportion of infections that are resistant – which remains quite firm, around one in five bloodstream infections – and we are seeing a worrying rise in resistance associated with certain antibiotics used to tackle bloodstream infections and blood poisoning.’
The chance of dying within 30 days from an antibiotic-resistant infection rose from 19 percent to 20 percent in 2022, compared to drug-susceptible strains, which had a rate of 16 percent.
People over 64 years old had the highest rate of bloodstream infections caused by resistant pathogens, followed by babies under one year of age.
UKHSA data also showed that people in the lowest socio-economic groups were more likely to develop an antibiotic-resistant infection compared to those in wealthier groups, while Asian and British Asian people were more likely to be affected.
Dr. Brown said: ‘We are currently working to understand the factors behind this and what we can do to address the trends we have identified.’
Dame Jenny added: ‘Antimicrobial resistance is not a crisis of the future, but one that is on our minds right now.
‘We expect that if we get a bacterial infection there will be an antibiotic available to treat us, but sometimes that is simply impossible.
‘Unless action is taken, the availability of life-saving treatments will only decrease and our ability to reduce infections will decline, most likely to have the worst consequences for people in the poorest social circumstances.’
Dame Jenny urged people to reduce the spread of infection by avoiding vulnerable people if you feel ill, washing your hands regularly and keeping rooms ventilated.
“This isn’t just about protecting your own health, it’s about helping everyone in our communities,” she added.
“Second, only take antibiotics if instructed to do so by a healthcare professional. Don’t save some for later or share them with friends and family.
‘Antibiotics do not work against viruses such as colds, flu or Covid.
‘Treat antibiotics with respect and they will be there to help us all in the future.’