Why is the threat of antibiotic resistance alarming?

In the U.S. alone, there are an estimated 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections each year and about 35,000 reported deaths, although experts fear that the real number is much higher. The bacteria that cause these infections are known as superbugs and thrive in hospitals and medical facilities, putting all patients, whether they are getting care for a minor illness or major surgery, at risk. 

The patients at greatest risk from superbugs are the ones who are already more vulnerable to illness from viral lung infections like influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and COVID-19. Many of the deaths are actually not caused by the virus itself but by secondary bacterial pneumonia.