Antibiotics were first introduced in the early 1900’s and at the time seen as a revolutionary discovery in medicine. The antibiotic has saved millions of lives but as antibiotics lose their effectiveness, infections could potentially kill 10 million people a year by 2050.

A recent study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) published a list of the twelve greatest threats to human health due to them becoming resistant to antibiotics. Health experts have previously warned that resistance to antibiotics could be a major setback to health, and medical procedures such as organ transplants, C-sections and chemotherapy. Which could become too dangerous to perform. This breakthrough list will allow for important research into new antibiotics and potentially prevent bacteria from evolving.  Further to this the bacteria listed is potentially dangerous to hospitals and nursing homes. Causing severe and even deadly infections such as blood infections and pneumonia.

“Antibiotic resistance is growing and we are fast running out of treatment options. If we leave it to the market forces alone, the new antibiotics we most urgently need are not going to be developed in time.” Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO’s assistant director-general for health systems and innovation.

The full list can be found here.