Antibiotics are losing efficacy

When cold temperatures dominate the weather, people stay indoors for longer periods, and illness becomes more prevalent. Most people shrug off the inevitable because they believe they will avoid getting sick, or if they do, they can obtain medication easily. However, the once wonder-drugs, antibiotics, are losing their efficacy.

The World Health Organization reports, “One in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections causing common infections in people worldwide in 2023 were resistant to antibiotic treatments,” and a study shows that there is “an average annual increase of 5–15%.1” The study cited covered a five-year period, so it is reasonable to believe that the trend will continue unless we make changes.

Bacteria and fungi are evolving to withstand established antibiotics and doing so at a faster rate than new antibiotics can be developed2. Howeveer, the primary reason that antibiotics are becoming less effective is due to the widespread use of broad-spectrum, just in case therapy. What does that mean? It means that widespread bacterial and fungal antibiotic resistance is largely our doing.

However, you and your healthcare providers can help to mitigate or perhaps reverse the trend. Do not use antibiotics whenever you become ill. Likewise, healthcare providers should avoid prescribing antibiotics when they aren’t necessary.