Superbug could kill 10 million a year by 2050

Doctors should be forced to perform diagnostic tests on patients before prescribing antibiotics which are currently being dished out “like sweets”, according to a major review of antibiotic resistance.

Experts have warned that resistance to the drugscould cause a bigger threat to mankind than cancer.

Tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is “absolutely essential”, said Jim O’Neill, who has published a global action plan to prevent drug-resistant infections and defeat the rising threat of so-called superbugs.