Why does CGD see drug resistance as a major issue?
Over the long term, much of the health care progress in developing countries may be for naught if we can’t overcome drug resistance. In the United States, it costs several thousand dollars extra to treat an infection that is resistant to common antimicrobials; hospital-acquired infections alone are estimated to cost $17-$29 billion per year. But the cost of improper management of medicines and health care in the developing world will be measured not only in terms of wasted money but also in lives needlessly lost. Resistance has arisen against all major drugs for treating Malaria and TB — sometimes making them untreatable. Resistance is growing rapidly to antibiotics for Staph and Strep, and for common diarrheal and respiratory infections. Resistance to drugs for treating AIDS is beginning to emerge in developing countries where treatment has been available, and it is expected to grow as treatment expands. It also limits treatment options for serious illnesses such as respiratory infec
