Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
October 13, 2025 Healthcare
One in six laboratory-confirmed cases of common bacterial infections worldwide in 2023 was characterized by resistance to antibiotic treatment. From 2018 to 2023, more than 40 percent of monitored pathogen-antibiotic combinations demonstrated increased resistance, with an annual increase of 5-15 percent. These are the findings of a report published today by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Data collected by the WHO Global Monitoring System on Antimicrobial Resistance and Use (GLASS) from more than 100 countries shows that rising resistance to essential antibiotics is a growing threat to public health.
The new edition of the Global Antibiotic Resistance Report presents, for the first time, estimates for 22 antibiotics used to treat urinary tract, gastrointestinal, and bloodstream infections, as well as gonorrhea. The report includes data on eight common bacterial pathogens: Acinetobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, nontyphoidal Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
The risk varies by region.
According to WHO estimates, antibiotic resistance is highest in the Southeast Asian and Eastern Mediterranean regions, where one-third of documented infections were resistant. In the WHO African Region, resistance was observed in one-fifth of cases. Furthermore, antibiotic resistance is more common and increasing in countries where healthcare facilities lack sufficient capacity to detect and treat bacterial infections.
Read also:
He said antibiotics must be used responsibly, ensuring that everyone has access to essential medications, high-quality diagnostics, and vaccines.
Gram-negative bacteria are the biggest threat
The report notes the growing global threat of drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Among these, drug-resistant strains of E. coli and K. pneumoniae, most commonly identified in bloodstream infections, are particularly prominent. They cause a range of severe bacterial infections, often leading to sepsis, organ failure, and death. Currently, more than 40 percent of E. coli strains and more than 55 percent of K. pneumoniae strains demonstrate resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, the first-line drugs used to treat these infections. Moreover, in the African region, the proportion of such strains exceeds 70 percent.
A number of other life-saving antibiotics, including carbapenems and fluoroquinolones, are losing effectiveness against E. coli, K. pneumoniae, Salmonella, and Acinetobacter. Carbapenem resistance was once rare, but it is now becoming increasingly common, limiting treatment options.
Gaps in surveillance
From 2016 to 2023, the proportion of countries participating in the WHO monitoring system quadrupled, from 25 to 104. However, 48 percent of them did not submit data in 2023, and approximately half lack reliable data collection systems. Furthermore, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance infrastructure is lacking in countries with the highest risk of it.
INpolitical declaration on the problem of UPP, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2024, sets targets to combat resistance by strengthening health systems and coordinating action across the human, veterinary and environmental sectors.
The WHO calls on all countries to provide high-quality data on AMR and antimicrobial use by 2030. Countries should more broadly implement coordinated measures at all levels of the healthcare system, taking into account local resistance trends when selecting treatment protocols and purchasing medications.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.