6. Antibiotics
The discovery of penicillin in 1928 marked a pivotal moment in medical history, revolutionizing the treatment of bacterial infections and saving countless lives. However, the widespread and often inappropriate use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), where bacteria evolve to resist the effects of these drugs. This resistance has become a critical global health threat, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death. In 2023, one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide were resistant to antibiotic treatments (who.int). The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified AMR as one of the top global public health threats in the 21st century, requiring action across all government sectors and society. Without effective antibiotics, medical procedures such as organ transplantation, caesarean sections, cancer chemotherapy, and diabetes management become challenging. The emergence and spread of AMR threaten our ability to treat common infectious diseases and result in prolonged illness, disability, and death.
