Taiwan is facing a pressing global health issue as experts warn of rising antibiotic-resistant bacteria, known as superbugs. National Taiwan University Professor Chen Hsiu-hsi (陳秀熙) outlined four key strategies to address the issue on Tuesday.
The WHO has classified antibiotic resistance as one of the top ten global health threats, with projections indicating that by 2050, antibiotic resistance could cause 1.91 million deaths globally; the elderly are most at risk.
Recent tests on wastewater from eight hospitals in Taiwan revealed antibiotics levels exceeding legal limits. Professor Chen says that the antibiotics found in the wastewater likely originate from patient excretion, highlighting a troubling increase in antibiotic use despite strict infection control measures. He warns that rising antibiotic levels could lead to the development of superbugs resistant to first- and second-line treatments.
Professor Chen also pointed out that the projected increase in the use of third-line antibiotics could double between 2005 and 2035, making many infections untreatable and resulting in significant mortality.
Chen proposed four major response strategies to tackle the issue, including developing and managing antibiotics, improving diagnostic technologies, enhancing preventive medicine and alternative therapies, and fostering cross-disciplinary environmental monitoring.
In response to the escalating threat, the Cabinet has approved a national action plan set to launch next year, allocating NT$200 million (US$6.2 million) in its first year. The initiative aims to reduce antibiotic use in hospitals by 5% and lower the incidence of superbug Acinetobacter baumannii infections by 10%.