Antimicrobial Resistance - or AMR - is a term most people have likely heard, but few actually know the extent of the deadly threat it poses. Recent reports show that AMR now results in an estimated 700,000 deaths annually, worldwide and is predicted to increase to over 10 million annually by 2050 – surpassing predictions of annual deaths for cancer (8.2 million) and diabetes (1.5 million). Data also shows that the COVID-19 pandemic may have accelerated the threat of AMR, due to the many hospital admissions of patients with COVID-19 symptoms who are then treated with antibiotics to reduce chances of contracting secondary bacterial infections, increasing the commonality of resistant bacteria.  

Tune in as Jan Poolman, Head Bacterial Vaccine Discovery and Early Development at Janssen Infectious Diseases and Dr. Steffanie Strathdee, Distinguished Professor, UC San Diego Department of Medicine, Co-Director, Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics and author of The Perfect Predator discuss the potential threats that AMR can pose, and what a potential global action plan to protect against AMR would look like.

The IDViewpoints podcast was created by Janssen. Guests of IDViewpoints are not compensated in any way for participation in this podcast. All thoughts and opinions expressed on IDViewpoints are those of the guests and should not be considered medical advice. If you need medical advice or have questions about your treatment or condition, consult with your healthcare provider.