Japan had over 8,000 deaths related to drug-resistant bacteria in 2017

I don't think the article is saying that specifically. But I think overuse of antibiotics is considered one likely cause of the increase in the number of drug-resistant bacteria everywhere, not just in Japan. The numerical comparisons between Japan, the US and Europe are not so helpful. It's likely different estimation methods were used, and as Browny1 says, the numbers don't seem so different.

I absolutely agree. The 33,000 in Europe mentioned are probably taken from the article you linked. Those numbers are from 2015 and are actually only for the EEA (European Economic Area). The numbers for each country are quite different, so you actually have to look at each country on its own and not just lump them together.

Italy with a population of 60.3 million people alone is responsible for about 1/3 of all deaths in the EEA caused by resistant bacteria. There were 33,110 deaths in the whole EEA, but 10,762 in Italy alone. France with its 67 million inhabitants still accounted for 5,543 deaths.

Other places like Germany or the UK fare far better in comparison. In the UK there are about 67 million people, but only 2,172 people died because of resistant bacteria. Germany with 83 million inhabitants accounted for 2,363 deaths.

So there are countries that do far worse than Japan, but also several that do a better job.

So the improper use of antibiotics is blamed as the cause in Japan

I don't think the article is saying that specifically. But I think overuse of antibiotics is considered one likely cause of the increase in the number of drug-resistant bacteria everywhere, not just in Japan. The numerical comparisons between Japan, the US and Europe are not so helpful. It's likely different estimation methods were used, and as Browny1 says, the numbers don't seem so different.

What isn't mentioned in the article, but is mentioned in other studies is that such infections are often acquired in health care facilities (e.g. hospitals). The article below (perhaps the source of the 33,000 deaths per year in Europe figure), says 72% of deaths are health-care associated. Does that mean it is better to avoid going to hospital than not taking antibiotics?

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(18)30605-4/fulltext

the "and animals" is the unsettling part for everyone

According to the article linked to below, in the USA, approximately 80% of antibiotics are sold for use in animal agriculture. (I'm no expert, and don't really know how significant that number is.)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4638249/

I’ve read an article in the last couple of months about drug companies flushing down unused / expired medicines into the waterways. I’m not 100% sure, but I think this was in India where they manufacture generics, and much of the wastewater are not treated (especially for things like drugs, but not sure which country actually treats drugs in wastewater well). The bacteria tested from these rivers were unbelievably resistant to any antibiotics, which then are consumed by aquatic life and birds. On the latter, I also read seagulls are also carrying a vast array of germs which are drug resistant.

I think this happens in many other countries, not just India. This is really worrisome, as you don’t have to go to hospitals to catch them. They’ll be coming to a location near you!

Here is a link.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458355/

Hello. We can study the use of some plants in the Allium genus and ginger compounds in treating people with antibiotic resistant microbes.

I’ll just stick to my NyQuil thank you!

How much do all those stupid, useless white paper doilies over the face contribute to illness? Think about it! People breathe in and out into that little face paper and it collects all their bacteria and viruses for endless re-inhalation. Please stop using them. Bring a little hankie that people have used for centuries. Your ancestors did not collapse because they were not stringing a paper rectangle across their face. Show your face in public before crowds in Tokyo take on the look of the zombie apocalypse.

The beginning of the end!

Kazuaki - thanks for your reply.

In the article Hiroshige Mikamo, an expert on the bacteria at Aichi Medical University said that it is likely to "easily eclipse 10,000" meaning now.

So I based my "around" figures on that.

And the point was not to declare a "winner of the stats race", but rather asking how Ganbare arrived at the idea that the article was anti-Japan because it mentioned EU & US statistics as well ( which correspond similarly to Japans)

How is an article saying Japan is addressing one of its problem anti-Japan ?

Taking a look as the weave created by the people claiming to defend Japan is fascinating.

browny1Today  12:40 pm JST

It is only about 8000 now. Mutiplying by 2.5 is 20000 and 4 is 32000, so the US and Europe still have worse instances of this problem.

Ganbare Japan!Today 09:42 am JST

So the improper use of antibiotics is blamed as the cause in Japan but what is the reason for the 35,000 deaths in the United States and 33,000 deaths in Europe?

invalid CSRF

Well stated. EU and USA are over-prescribing anti-biotics even more than Japan, based on the numbers of deaths. This seems like another anti-Japan article.

Invalid CSRF

:

Japan population is around 125 million

EU population is around 500million (4 X Japan)

USA population is around 330 million ( 2.5 X japan)

So Japan's estimated current death rate of 10,000 per head of pop is greater than EU's and a little lower than USA.

How can these facts represent anti-Japan? Please Explain.

So the improper use of antibiotics is blamed as the cause in Japan but what is the reason for the 35,000 deaths in the United States and 33,000 deaths in Europe?

invalid CSRF

Well stated. EU and USA are over-prescribing anti-biotics even more than Japan, based on the numbers of deaths. This seems like another anti-Japan article.

Invalid CSRF

Antibiotics induce weight gain and resistance in animals raised for meat (and to humans when consumed). Over consumption of meat impacts the environment (water/acreage for feed, pollution, methane) and health(growth hormones, obesity, antibiotics, GI tract).

the "and animals" is the unsettling part for everyone. Eggs, chicken, milk, pork, beef, aquaculture: how much are we all impacted by antibiotics in the food system?

this! We have no way of knowing. I was thinking about a similar thing yesterday when I heard the amount of microplastics in the ocean is 7 times more than expected. How do we know if the fish we ate contains those plastics. We are killing ourselves.

Many hospitals overseas have antibiotic policies, with restrictions on what can be prescribed: with physicians/drugs classified into three grades; junior/ restricted drug use; senior/wider but still restricted use; and specialist microbiologists, who are the only ones able to prescribe certain 'stronger' antibiotics, which can only be used after taking proper culture and sensitivity tests.

Antibiotics may also have their use rotated over 6-12 month periods, as data has shown that sensitivity returns over time, and resistance decreases.

All this takes discipline, and proper application of policy, with no exceptions.

the overuse of antibiotics on people and animals,

the "and animals" is the unsettling part for everyone. Eggs, chicken, milk, pork, beef, aquaculture: how much are we all impacted by antibiotics in the food system?

If I have a minor illness such as a cold, a hospital or clinic is the last place I'd want to be. No medicine is effective in remedying the cause. OTC medications can mitigate the symptoms, but otherwise, riding it out is the only cure.

Because Japanese doctors are overprescribing medication for incorrect situations. So when something that needs that medication arises, your body has already built up a resistance to the drug. Furthermore, existing bacteria has as well.