Antibiotic resistance 'a global threat'

The World Health Organisation (WHO)says common infections can once again be considered potentially fatal because of growing resistance worldwide to antibiotics, Radio New Zealand reports.

In a comprehensive global study of the topic released overnight, the United Nations organisation says the world is headed for a post-antibiotic era.

The organisation analysed data from 114 countries and said resistance was happening now in every region of the world. It described a post-antibiotic era, where people die from simple infections that have been treatable for decades.

There were likely to be devastating implications unless significant action was taken urgently, it added. The report focused on seven different bacteria responsible for common serious diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and blood infections.