Increased antibiotic resistance could affect routine surgery

[Gert van der Hoek]

Fears grow over increased antibiotic resistance

16 October 2015

• More than 6,000 deaths a year could be caused by a 30% fall in the effectiveness of antibiotics in the US, a report in The Lancet suggests.

It said most of the extra deaths would happen in patients having colorectal surgery, blood cancer chemotherapy and hip replacements.
UK experts said the study confirmed their fears that antibiotic resistance would affect routine surgery.

"Antibiotic resistance is a global problem and it is likely that routine surgery such as hip replacement and elective caesarean sections will become much rarer in the UK, unless steps are taken to prevent its spread."