Globalisation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria at recurring mass gathering events

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is associated with an estimated 4·95 million deaths annually and is currently a leading cause of death worldwide. 1 Murray CJL Ikuta KS Sharara F et al. Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis. Lancet. 2022; 399: 629-655 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (867) Google Scholar Despite numerous global initiatives to control the surge of antimicrobial resistance, at the current rate of increase, annual deaths from antimicrobial resistance are estimated to rise to 10 million by 2050. This puzzling conundrum indicates that there are unknown factors that continue to increase antimicrobial resistance at a global scale and that identifying them will be crucial in controlling the ongoing antimicrobial resistance pandemic. There are also scarce data about the geographical distribution and evolution of antimicrobial resistance over time in settings outside of health-care facilities, 2 Hay SI Rao PC Dolecek C et al. Measuring and mapping the global burden of antimicrobial resistance. BMC Med. 2018; 16: 78 Crossref PubMed Scopus (89) Google Scholar , 3 Luz CF van Niekerk JM Keizer J et al. Mapping twenty years of antimicrobial resistance research trends. Artif Intell Med. 2022; 123: 102216 Crossref PubMed Scopus (4) Google Scholar and more accurate scientific evidence is required to promote optimal policies to combat antimicrobial resistance.