Death Toll Linked to 'Superbugs' Surges by 17% in England as Resistance to Antibiotics Continues to Rise.
The number of people who have died from infections caused by superbugs that are resistant to frontline antibiotics has skyrocketed by 17% in England last year, according to official statistics. The increase is a worrying sign of the ongoing rise in antimicrobial resistance, which poses an existential threat to global healthcare systems.
Data released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also shows a significant surge in private prescriptions for antibiotics, with 22% of all antibiotics dispensed through the private sector in 2024. This is largely attributed to the Pharmacy First scheme, a government-backed initiative that allows patients to be prescribed antibiotics for common illnesses without seeing a doctor.
Critics argue that this shift in prescribing patterns risks fueling the spread of antibiotic resistance, which has already claimed thousands of lives worldwide. The UKHSA's chief executive, Professor Susan Hopkins, warned that "antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest health threats we face", with more people than ever at risk of serious illness and death due to infections that cannot be effectively treated by antibiotics.
The rise in antibiotic-resistant infections has led to a significant increase in cases of bacteraemia, a life-threatening infection where bacteria circulate in the blood. In 2024, there were over 20,400 reported cases of bacteraemia caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, up from 18,740 in 2023.
The UKHSA data also reveals that antibiotic use in NHS primary care decreased between 2019 and 2024, while private dispensing in community pharmacies more than doubled. Overall, primary care antibiotic use across the NHS and private sector rose by 10.7% over the five-year period.
Professor Hopkins called on the public to be cautious with antibiotics, urging them only to take them when prescribed by a healthcare professional. She also warned of the dangers of sharing or saving leftover antibiotics, which can contribute to the spread of resistance.
As the global death toll from antibiotic-resistant infections is projected to reach as many as 10 million by 2050, it remains to be seen whether the UK's efforts to combat resistance will be enough to stem the tide.
The number of people who have died from infections caused by superbugs that are resistant to frontline antibiotics has skyrocketed by 17% in England last year, according to official statistics. The increase is a worrying sign of the ongoing rise in antimicrobial resistance, which poses an existential threat to global healthcare systems.
Data released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also shows a significant surge in private prescriptions for antibiotics, with 22% of all antibiotics dispensed through the private sector in 2024. This is largely attributed to the Pharmacy First scheme, a government-backed initiative that allows patients to be prescribed antibiotics for common illnesses without seeing a doctor.
Critics argue that this shift in prescribing patterns risks fueling the spread of antibiotic resistance, which has already claimed thousands of lives worldwide. The UKHSA's chief executive, Professor Susan Hopkins, warned that "antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest health threats we face", with more people than ever at risk of serious illness and death due to infections that cannot be effectively treated by antibiotics.
The rise in antibiotic-resistant infections has led to a significant increase in cases of bacteraemia, a life-threatening infection where bacteria circulate in the blood. In 2024, there were over 20,400 reported cases of bacteraemia caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, up from 18,740 in 2023.
The UKHSA data also reveals that antibiotic use in NHS primary care decreased between 2019 and 2024, while private dispensing in community pharmacies more than doubled. Overall, primary care antibiotic use across the NHS and private sector rose by 10.7% over the five-year period.
Professor Hopkins called on the public to be cautious with antibiotics, urging them only to take them when prescribed by a healthcare professional. She also warned of the dangers of sharing or saving leftover antibiotics, which can contribute to the spread of resistance.
As the global death toll from antibiotic-resistant infections is projected to reach as many as 10 million by 2050, it remains to be seen whether the UK's efforts to combat resistance will be enough to stem the tide.
I'm tellin' ya, this is just the tip of the iceberg, fam! 
The government's Pharmacy First scheme is like a Trojan horse, man... they're basically sayin' it's okay to just take antibiotics for every little thing, without even seein' a doc. And now we got 17% more people dyin' from superbugs in England? That's not a coincidence, bro! It's like they're playin' with fire and expectin' nobody gets burned. 
And don't even get me started on the private prescriptions for antibiotics... that's just a recipe for disaster, IMHO. The problem is, we gotta look beyond the surface level here. What's really goin' on? Who's behind this? 
I'm not sayin' it's all conspiracy stuff (although, let's be real, some things are suspicious), but we need to keep an open mind and investigate further. The clock is tickin', bro... 10 million deaths by 2050? That's a wake-up call if I ever saw one! 
this is getting serious, like what if we can't even fight off a simple cold anymore? 
and those numbers of bacteraemia cases are insane, 20k+ in one year... that's like something out of a sci-fi movie 
interesting how the government's Pharmacy First scheme is affecting antibiotic use, but at what cost? 
. Antibiotic resistance is no joke, and it's crazy how fast things are spiraling out of control. I mean, 17% increase in death toll? That's like, a whole different ball game 
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like what's next? just walk-in clinics and no doc needed? 
. What's next, gonna be a world where we can't even get sick without messing up our gut bacteria 
? Antibiotics should only be taken when absolutely necessary and even then, you gotta take them exactly as prescribed 
. This is super worrying news, hope the government & NHS come up with some solid plans to tackle this problem