Superbug warning on the rise: Health chiefs urge Britons to ‘treat antibiotics with respect’ amid fears common bugs could eventually become incurable

People are being urged to “treat themselves with antibiotics with respect” amid concerns about deaths from complaints that should be treated.

The number of people dying from antibiotic-resistant infections rose last year, and experts warn that “due to the increase” of drugs used to fight sepsis are not working.

The head of the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA), Dame Jenny Harries, has warned that common diseases could one day become incurable amid the superbug crisis.

It comes after figures showed a recent sharp rise in antibiotic prescriptions after years of decline.

According to the UKHSA, 58,224 people in England had an antibiotic-resistant infection in 2022, a four per cent increase on 2021.

Of these, 2,202 people died, compared to 2,110 in the previous 12 months.

Figures released by the body show that antibiotic use in England fell from 2014 to 2020, with a steeper drop in 2020.

However, this trend has reversed, with the number of prescriptions increasing by 8.4 percent last year.

Dr Colin Brown, Deputy Director of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) at the UKHSA, attributed the decline in antibiotic-resistant infections from 2018 onwards to the Covid pandemic and the changes it caused in people seeking healthcare and spreading infection.

He added: “Unfortunately, we have seen an increase in antibiotic-resistant infections again in 2022 compared to what we saw before.”

“We still haven’t seen the proportion of resistant infections, which is still quite strong, about one in five bloodstream infections, and we’re also seeing an increase in resistance associated with some antibiotics used to fight bloodstream infections and sepsis.” ‘

The chance of dying from an antibiotic-resistant infection within 30 days rose from 19 percent to 20 percent in 2022, compared with drug-susceptible strains, which had a 16 percent rate.

People over the age of 64 had the highest rate of bloodstream infections caused by resistant pathogens, followed by babies under one year of age.

The UKHSA data also showed that those in the lowest socioeconomic groups were more likely to have an antibiotic-resistant infection compared to those in wealthier groups, while Asian and British Asian people were more likely to be affected.

Dr Brown said: “We are currently working to understand the factors behind this and what we can do to tackle any trends we have identified.”

Dame Jenni added: “Antimicrobial resistance is not a crisis of the future, but one that is with us right now.

“We expect that if we get a bacterial infection, an antibiotic will be available to treat it, but sometimes, already, that’s just impossible.”

“Unless action is taken, the availability of life-saving treatments will only decrease and our ability to reduce infections will decrease, most likely to affect those in the poorest social circumstances the worst.”

Ms Jenny urged people to reduce the spread of infections by avoiding vulnerable people if you feel sick, washing your hands regularly and ventilating rooms.

“It’s not just about protecting your own health, it’s about helping everyone in our communities,” she added.

“Second, take antibiotics only if your health care provider tells you to.” Save some for later or share with friends and family.

“Antibiotics will not work for viruses such as colds, flu or Covid.

“Treat antibiotics with respect and they will be there to help us all in the future.”