The World Health Organization (WHO) published its first ever list of antibiotic-resistant “priority pathogens” and called on governments to help increase the research and development (R&D) of new antibiotics to address the growing problem.
The United National Health Agency said that many of these bacteria have already evolved into deadly superbugs that are resistant to many antibiotics.
According to the health organization, the bugs “have built-in abilities to find new ways to resist treatment” and can also pass on genetic material that allows other bacteria to become drug-resistant
In recent decades, drug-resistant bacteria, such as staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or clostridium difficile, have become a global health threat. Superbug strains of infections such as tuberculosis and gonorrhea are already untreatable.
The WHO has previously warned that many antibiotics could become redundant this century, leaving patients exposed to deadly infections and threatening the future of medicine.