Misuse of antibiotics can transform simple infections into fatal

Resistance is linked to over 4.95 million deaths per year worldwide (Lancet data, 2022). In Brazil, the estimate is 48,000 annual deaths from resistant infections, and may reach 1.2 million deaths by 2050 if nothing is done, according to Anvisa and the Ministry of Health. Report projection of up to 10 million deaths per year by 2050 if there is no coordinated action (O’Neill Report, 2016).

Study evaluated 104 public (40% of the sample) and private hospitals in the country (60% of the sample) and found important failures. 20% of hospitals that responded to research do not correctly adjust the dose of antibiotics, something essential to avoid excess or ineffectiveness of treatment; 87.7% still use antibiotics empirically, ie by attempt and error, with no examination of exams that confirm which bacteria is causing the infection. The study has some limitations, Brazil has more than 7,100 hospitals, according to data from 2022 of the National Health Confederation. According to the institute that conducted the survey, the questionnaire was sent to more than 300 hospitals, and the great difficulty is the organization and tabulation of data by each institution, which ends up making the answers unfeasible.

Problem is also environmental. No hospital analyzed has a protocol for proper disposal or treatment of hospital effluents. Untreated hospital waste leads to remains of antibiotics to rivers and soils, spreading resistance.

Using non -control antibiotics accelerates bacterial resistance. This means that simple infections such as a urinary tract infection or pneumonia can become difficult or impossible to treat. In ICUs, where patients are already more vulnerable, resistance can be fatal.

If we continue like this, in less than 10 years, first -rate antibiotics may completely lose effectiveness, and simple infections will be fatal again. This is not a catastrophic prediction – this trend confirmed by WHO. Research excerpt

Antimicrobial resistance is not a hospital challenge, it is a public, economic and environmental health crisis. Mara Machado, CEO of IQG