Intelligence: Global Antibiotic Resistance Crisis Antibiotic-resistant infections now cause an estimated 1.27 million deaths annually worldwide, with projections suggesting 10 million deaths per year by 2050 if current trends continue—exceeding cancer mortality rates. The crisis stems from overuse in human medicine and livestock farming; approximately 70% of antibiotics globally are administered to animals, often for growth promotion rather than treatment. Resistance development accelerates when bacteria encounter subtherapeutic doses, creating selective pressure for resistant strains to proliferate across populations. This matters because we risk returning to pre-penicillin medicine where routine surgeries and infections become potentially fatal, while economic costs could reach $100+ trillion in lost productivity and treatment expenses by mid-century.