To measure antibiotic resistance bacteria are streaked on dishes with white antibiotic impregnated disks. Clear rings, such as those on the left, show that bacteria have not grown—indicating that the bacteria are not resistant to antibiotics. The bacteria in the petri dish on the right fully susceptible to only three of the seven antibiotics tested. Photo: CC BY-SA 4.0 Graham Beards
It's estimated about 1.2 million people die around the world each year from drug resistant infections, with the number predicted to balloon to 10m by 2050.
Known scientifically as anti-microbial resistance or AMR, researchers from Auckland University call it a silent pandemic.
Last year they set up a dedicated Centre for Antimicrobial Research which this week is hosting a symposium bringing together top experts to shine a light on the growing and largely unrecognised threat drug resistance poses in Aotearoa.
Associate Professor Ghader Bashiri from the University's School of Biological Sciences says more funding is needed to reduce the risks, and give New Zealanders access to new generation antibiotics.
