Greater investment in infection prevention and access to existing antibiotics could help reduce the millions of deaths caused by bacterial diseases worldwide, according to a new editorial published in Science Translational Medicine. Usher Institute's Mark Woolhouse, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, argues that antimicrobial resistance is just one of the challenges in tackling the seven to eight million deaths caused by bacterial diseases each year.While antibiotic resistance remains a serious global health concern, many people, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, are unable to access existing antibiotics that could successfully treat their infections.The editorial highlights the importance of investing in proven prevention measures, including improvements to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and infection prevention and control (IPC) in hospitals.The World Health Organization estimates that 70% of healthcare-associated infections worldwide are preventable, demonstrating the potential for these measures to save lives while reducing the need for antibiotics. We know how to deliver WASH and IPC, but those are far less glamorous activities than developing a new drug. Sometimes, though, the easiest solutions are the best. Professor Mark Woolhouse Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Usher Institute The editorial argues that greater investment in these established approaches could deliver substantial health benefits, while helping to preserve the effectiveness of existing antibiotics.Cite asMark E. J. Woolhouse, Prevention is better than cure. Sci. Transl. Med.18, eadw9354(2026). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adw9354Further informationRead the full Science Translational Medicine editorial Edinburgh Infectious Diseases This article was published on Friday 23 October 2026
