NEWS – The Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report 2025 was published by the World Health Organization (WHO)

HIGHLIGHTS

Background

• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Bacteria evolve to survive antibiotics, rendering standard treatments ineffective.
• Public health threat: Leads to prolonged illness, higher healthcare costs, and increased mortality.
• High-risk pathogens: Gram-negative bacteria—Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter spp.
• AWaRe classification:
  • Access: First-line antibiotics (e.g., co-trimoxazole)
  • Watch: Broad-spectrum (e.g., cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones)
  • Reserve: Last-resort (e.g., carbapenems)

Key Findings

• Global resistance: 1 in 6 bacterial infections resistant to ≥1 antibiotic; median resistance 17.2%.
• Infection-specific resistance:
  • Urinary tract: 1 in 3 infections
  • Bloodstream: 1 in 6 infections
  • Gastrointestinal: 1 in 15 infections
  • Gonorrhoeal: 1 in 125 infections
• Pathogen-specific highlights:
  • E. coli: 44.8% resistance to third-generation cephalosporins (≥70% in Africa)
  • K. pneumoniae: 55.2% global resistance; carbapenem resistance 41.2% in SE Asia
  • Acinetobacter spp.: Carbapenem resistance 54.3%
  • MRSA: 23.2% methicillin resistance in bloodstream infections

Regional Trends

• Highest resistance: South-East Asia & Eastern Mediterranean (~1 in 3 infections)
• Africa: 1 in 5 infections; cephalosporin resistance >70%
• Europe: ~1 in 10 infections
• LMICs: Disproportionate burden due to weak diagnostics, overuse of antibiotics, limited surveillance

Strategic Recommendations

• Strengthen surveillance and lab infrastructure; integrate data for targeted interventions
• Implement antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention measures
• Promote R&D of new antibiotics and equitable access
• Reduce antibiotic misuse; enhance diagnostics
• Achieve 10% reduction in AMR-related deaths by 2030
• Foster One Health approach and global collaboration

Broader Implications

• AMR is a global public health emergency; threatens routine medical treatments.
• Urgent international cooperation and responsible antibiotic use are critical to safeguard future health security.