Resistant bacteria spend a lot of lives and money, the OECD said

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria not only endanger the life but also burden the health system: they can generating up to $ 3.5 billion in annual expenditure by 2050 in every OECD country, according to a report published Wednesday, November 7.

"These bacteria are more expensive than flu, AIDS, TB, and the costs will be more expensive if the country does not act to solve this problem," Michele Cechini, a public health specialist in AFP, told AFP. OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development).

According to him, countries have spent an average of 10% of their health budget for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

According to projections in the report, which concerns 33 of the 36 OECD countries, resistant bacteria can kill 2.4 million people in Europe, North America and Australia by 2050.

A separate study, published Monday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, was reported 33,000 total deaths caused by this bacterium in 2015 in the European Union.

However, we can fight them with moderate "simple steps", according to the OECD: "encouraging better hygiene" (by encouraging for example hand washing), "ending excessive antibiotic prescriptions" or further generalizing rapid diagnostic tests for determine whether a viral infection (in this case an antibiotic is useless) or bacteria.

According to the OECD, these steps will cost only $ 2 per person per year and prevent three quarters of deaths.

"Investments in large public health programs that incorporate these steps can be eliminated in one year and will result in savings of $ 4.8 billion per year," the OECD said.

Health authorities, starting with the World Health Organization (WHO), are regularly vigilant danger of excessive consumption of antibiotics, which makes it resistant to tough bacteria. Small children and parents are very risky.

"In Brazil, Indonesia and Russia, between 40 and 60% of infections are resistant, compared to an average of 17% in OECD countries, "said the last.

Even more worrying, "resistance to second or third line antibiotics is expected to be 70% higher by 2030 compared to 2005". This antibiotic is what should be used as a last resort, when there is no other solution.

(With AFP)