A recent study found that 750,000 individuals pass away each year in low- and middle-income countries due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This occurs when bacteria or viruses develop resistance to antimicrobial medications. Globally, approximately 7.7 million deaths result from infections annually, with 5 million attributed to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
By prioritizing infection prevention, an estimated 750,000 lives could be preserved annually. These findings were reported in The Lancet Medical Journal. Focus on raising awareness for infection prevention is crucial to combat this issue.
Simple practices like proper hand hygiene could save over 300,000 lives yearly. Additionally, ensuring access to safe drinking water and enhancing children's vaccination availability could prevent numerous fatalities.