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Antibiotics: When antibiotics no longer work

Quick Look

The next global health crisis will not start with a new virus, but with growing antibiotic resistance.
Five million people worldwide die from resistant germs every year; by 2050 the number could rise to over 39 million.
Hannah Grünewald speaks in the podcast »What now? – The Week” with Jan Schweitzer from ZEIT about this underestimated threat.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

Antibiotic resistance arises from excessive and incorrect use of antibiotics, causing bacteria to become resistant. One in six bacterial infections is now resistant, and without effective antibiotics, simple infections could become deadly again.

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The next global health crisis will not start with a new virus. She's been there for a long time.

From the series: What now? – The week

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When was the last time you took antibiotics? Maybe because of tonsillitis or bronchitis?

Something like this is always unpleasant, but so far there's no real reason to worry. But soon more people could die from such everyday infections than from cancer or cardiovascular diseases.

The more often we use antibiotics, the faster they stop working. One in six bacterial infections is now resistant to antibiotics. Five million people worldwide die every year from antibiotic-resistant germs. And according to a comprehensive study, there could be more than 39 million by 2050.

The next global health crisis will not start with a new virus. She's been there for a long time.

Hannah Grünewald talks about this in the 152nd episode of »What Now? – The Week” with Jan Schweitzer, editor in the health department at ZEIT.

Our show is available every Thursday on zeit.de and on YouTube as well as as a video podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Moderation: Hannah Grünewald

Editing, production and direction: Julia Brötz, Matthias Giordano

Camera & Sound: Charlotte Simon

Light: David Prior

Post production: Charlotte Jansen

Studio assistant: Lisa Kellner

Head of video department: Max Boenke

Technical concept: Sven Wolters Soto

Video design: Fabian Friedrich, Adele Ogiermann

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

By 2050, more than 39 million people could die every year from antibiotic-resistant germs if no countermeasures are taken.
Likely · Within months
Everyday infections such as tonsillitis or bronchitis could become life-threatening illnesses again.
Possible · Within years

Open Questions

What specific measures are being taken to slow down antibiotic resistance?
How can developing countries ensure access to effective antibiotics while reducing misuse?
What incentives exist for pharmaceutical companies to develop new antibiotics?
How effective are current educational campaigns on the correct use of antibiotics?

Antibiotics: When antibiotics no longer work

Quick Look

The next global health crisis will not start with a new virus, but with growing antibiotic resistance.
Five million people worldwide die from resistant germs every year; by 2050 the number could rise to over 39 million.
Hannah Grünewald speaks in the podcast »What now? – The Week” with Jan Schweitzer from ZEIT about this underestimated threat.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

Font size

The next global health crisis will not start with a new virus. She's been there for a long time.

From the series: What now? – The week

This audio version was artificially created.

The audio version of this article was artificially generated. We are constantly developing this offer and look forward to your feedback.

When was the last time you took antibiotics? Maybe because of tonsillitis or bronchitis?

Something like this is always unpleasant, but so far there's no real reason to worry. But soon more people could die from such everyday infections than from cancer or cardiovascular diseases.

The next global health crisis will not start with a new virus. She's been there for a long time.

Hannah Grünewald talks about this in the 152nd episode of »What Now? – The Week” with Jan Schweitzer, editor in the health department at ZEIT.

Our show is available every Thursday on zeit.de and on YouTube as well as as a video podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Moderation: Hannah Grünewald

Editing, production and direction: Julia Brötz, Matthias Giordano

Camera & Sound: Charlotte Simon

Light: David Prior

Post production: Charlotte Jansen

Studio assistant: Lisa Kellner

Head of video department: Max Boenke

Technical concept: Sven Wolters Soto

Video design: Fabian Friedrich, Adele Ogiermann

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

By 2050, more than 39 million people could die every year from antibiotic-resistant germs if no countermeasures are taken.
Likely · Within months
Everyday infections such as tonsillitis or bronchitis could become life-threatening illnesses again.
Possible · Within years

Open Questions

What specific measures are being taken to slow down antibiotic resistance?
How can developing countries ensure access to effective antibiotics while reducing misuse?
What incentives exist for pharmaceutical companies to develop new antibiotics?
How effective are current educational campaigns on the correct use of antibiotics?