The report identifies Gram-negative bacteria, such as E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae , as posing the greatest threat. These pathogens are a leading cause of severe bloodstream infections that can lead to sepsis, organ failure, and death. Critically, more than 40% of E. coli and over 55% of K. pneumoniae globally are now resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, which are the first-choice antibiotics for treating these infections. In parts of Africa, this resistance level exceeds 70%. Meanwhile, essential last-resort drugs like carbapenems are also losing their effectiveness, leaving clinicians with increasingly limited options.
A major factor is the widespread use of antibiotics in livestock, where they are used not just for illness, but to promote growth.
: Resistance is a natural consequence of selective pressure, but it is worsened by the widespread use of antibiotics in food-producing animals Future Outlook The report identifies Gram-negative bacteria, such as E
For nearly a century, antibiotics have been the bedrock of modern medicine. Since Alexander Fleming’s chance discovery of penicillin in 1928, these miracle compounds have transformed public health, turning once-fatal bacterial infections into routine, treatable ailments. Procedures we take for granted today—from routine dental surgeries and cesarean sections to complex organ transplants and cancer chemotherapies—rely fundamentally on the safety net provided by antimicrobial drugs. However, this golden era of medicine is under severe duress. Across the globe, bacteria are evolving faster than our capacity to treat them, giving rise to a phenomenon known as antibiotic resistance (AMR), which experts now classify as one of the preeminent health crises of the twenty-first century.
Pharmaceutical companies prioritize drugs for chronic conditions because they are more profitable than antibiotics. Questions 12–14 Critically, more than 40% of E
For nearly a century, antibiotics have been the bedrock of modern medicine. Since Alexander Fleming’s chance discovery of penicillin in 1928, these miracle drugs have saved hundreds of millions of lives. They transformed once-fatal infections—like pneumonia, tuberculosis, and rheumatic fever—into easily treatable ailments. They also made complex surgeries, organ transplants, and cancer therapies possible by shielding vulnerable patients from opportunistic bacterial infections. However, this golden age of medicine is under severe threat. Paragraph B
: Resistance is an evolutionary risk, but not a guaranteed consequence of every single dose. In parts of Africa, this resistance level exceeds 70%
Complete the sentences below using from the passage.
What is the primary cause of antibiotic resistance?
Paragraph D validates this statement: "Despite regulatory pushback from bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO), global agricultural dependency on these drugs remains stubbornly high."