Global health experts warn of rising antimicrobial and fungal resistance

Health experts are raising alarms regarding the global rise of antimicrobial resistance, specifically concerning both bacteria and fungi. Experts describe antibiotic resistance as a ‘silent pandemic,’ noting that nearly 3 million deaths recorded in 2019 could rise to 10 million annually by 2050 if new treatments are not developed.

Contributing factors include the massive use of antibiotics in food production, such as in poultry farms and aquaculture, as well as waste disposal systems in hospitals and elderly care facilities that concentrate pathogens and high doses of drugs.

In Chile, there is a growing call to implement the World Health Organization’s roadmap to address fungal infections and antifungal resistance. While Chile has maintained a National Plan against Antimicrobial Resistance since 2017, experts emphasize the need to integrate fungal surveillance into this agenda using a ‘One Health’ approach, which connects human, animal, and environmental health factors.