The Lancet Series on Antimicrobial Resistance: The need for sustainable access to effective antibiotics

Access to effective antibiotics is essential to every health system in the world, however, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens this backbone of modern medicine and is already leading to deaths and disease which would have once been prevented.

This Series highlights that, although AMR can affect anyone throughout the life course, the very young, very old and severely ill are the ones suffering the most.

Through novel modelling data, this Series shows how stopping infections through improved vaccination and water and sanitation can not only prevent a significant proportion of deaths due to AMR in low- and middle-income countries, but also reduce the use of antibiotics to preserve its effectiveness.

The Series also addresses how a rethink of drug development is needed to support investment in antibiotic, diagnostics, and vaccine development according to the burden of infection and resistance. Lower drug development costs will also make antibiotics more affordable and accessible.

Finally, the authors argue for the need of targets to trigger political commitment and accelerate progress in addressing AMR.