Antimicrobial agents, such as antibiotics, have dramatically reduced the number of deaths from infectious diseases during the 70 years since their introduction. However, through overuse and misuse of these agents, many micro-organisms have become resistant to this treatment.
It is estimated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control that antimicrobial resistance results every year in 25,000 deaths and related costs of over 1.5 billion euros in healthcare expenses and productivity losses.
This situation is all the more serious because these products have become an essential tool for modern medicine. Several surgical operations could not be performed if no antimicrobial agents were available.
