CSIRO warns ‘catastrophic’ global health crisis is looming

Antimicrobial resistance could be responsible for over 5000 deaths a year in Australia, according to a damning new report.

A CSIRO report released today says the threat posed by drug-resistant superbugs poses a “catastrophic” risk to modern medicine and a “global health crisis” is looming.

Press PLAY below to hear why experts are worried + what can be done

Lead of the CSIRO’s Minimising Antimicrobial Resistance Mission and author of the report, Dr Branwen Morgan, says Australia is ranked eighth out of 28 countries for prescription of antibiotics.

“We know we’re overprescribing for small things like sore throats or respiratory infections that may be viral,” she told Neil Mitchell.

“I think we’re really at the point where we have to consider seriously whether we’re going to undertake any type of surgery, particularly elective surgeries, because if we don’t’ have ay medicines to combat those infections that occasionally result from surgery it increases the risk.”