London, February 27, 2025 – At least 7,600 people die each year in the United Kingdom due to infections caused by superbugs, according to a report published by the National Health Service (NHS) on Wednesday.
The report indicates that the government has made little progress in preventing deaths from superbug infections. Superbugs refer to bacteria and other microorganisms that have developed resistance to common antibiotics, including the most powerful ones available in the market. Scientists believe that excessive reliance on antibiotics over the years has led to the emergence of these highly resistant pathogens.
A study published last year in The Lancet, one of the world’s leading medical journals, stated that more than one million people globally die each year due to superbug infections. If the current trend continues, this number could rise to 19 million by 2050.
A separate report from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted that in 2021, superbug-related infections contributed to 5.8 million deaths worldwide. Among these, 1.1 million deaths were directly caused by superbugs, while the remaining 4.7 million were due to complications from such infections.
The NHS report also revealed that in 2018, the UK government set a target to reduce superbug-related deaths by 10%. However, instead of a decline, the death rate has increased by 13% compared to 2018.
The report further stated that many NHS hospitals lack the necessary infrastructure to prevent superbug-related deaths. If the government addresses these infrastructural issues, significant progress could be made in reducing fatalities in the coming years.