WHO Warns of Dramatic Increase in Global Antibiotic Resistance
A new World Health Organisation (WHO) report reveals that one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide in 2023 were resistant to antibiotic treatments.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to global health, undermining the effectiveness of life-saving treatments and increasing the risk for populations from common infections or routine medical interventions.
- Data from the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) shows a rise in antibiotic resistance in over 40% of monitored pathogen-antibiotic combinations between 2018 and 2023.
- The average annual increase in resistance was 5-15% during this period, based on data from 104 countries.
The WHO urges responsible use of antibiotics to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
Author's summary: WHO reports a dramatic increase in global antibiotic resistance.