Monday's report ("Superbugs - why they matter to Singapore") reminds us about the hidden toll of drug-resistant superbugs.

Infections caused by superbugs are difficult and expensive to treat.

Deaths caused by these bugs don't seem to be adequately tracked and are not often identified as a cause of death.

Many patients contract superbugs in hospital settings, but there is no clear understanding of where a particular superbug is causing an outbreak or where infections are increasing or decreasing.

Thus, the public does not view the emergence of superbugs as a pressing health issue.

To contain healthcare costs and improve patient safety, I hope the Ministry of Health and the medical community will urgently stamp out superbugs and conduct public education on this threat.

Lee Soh Hong (Ms)