Antimicrobial Resistance ‘Outpacing Advances in Modern Medicine’
16 Oct 2025
According to the report, one in six common bacterial infections in 2023 was resistant to standard antibiotic treatments.
“Antimicrobial resistance is outpacing advances in modern medicine, threatening the health of families worldwide,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
“We must use antibiotics responsibly and ensure equitable access to quality medicines, diagnostics, and vaccines while investing in next-generation antibiotics and rapid molecular tests.”
The findings show drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria pose an increasing global threat, with more than 40% of E. coli and 55% of K. pneumoniae now resistant to third-generation cephalosporins — the first-line treatment for these infections.
Global and Regional Trends
The report found AMR levels are highest in the South-East Asian and Eastern Mediterranean regions, where around one-third of reported infections are resistant.
In the African region, approximately 20% of infections show resistance, often in areas with limited diagnostic and treatment capacity.
However, 48% of countries did not report data to GLASS in 2023, leaving critical knowledge gaps, particularly in lower-income regions with weaker surveillance systems.
Expert Perspectives
Associate Professor Sanjaya Senanayake, infectious diseases specialist at the Australian National University, said AMR extends beyond clinical misuse of antibiotics.
“It’s not just about inappropriate prescribing. AMR also involves antibiotic use in animals and plants, over-the-counter misuse, environmental contamination, and lagging development of new drugs.”
Associate Professor Rietie Venter, Head of Microbiology at the University of South Australia, said the report “raises serious concerns” about diagnostic and stewardship systems.
“Strengthening health systems, ensuring equitable access to antibiotics, and investing in new antimicrobial therapies are essential to combat this growing threat,” she said.
Dr Andreea Molnar from Swinburne University of Technology warned that without effective antibiotics, even routine surgeries could become “dangerously risky”.
“A coordinated global effort, tailored to local contexts, is crucial. Improved surveillance and monitoring are positive steps toward evidence-based action,” she added.
Next Steps
The WHO is urging countries to strengthen laboratory systems, expand data-sharing networks, and implement policies informed by robust surveillance.
It stressed that achieving progress will require “concerted action” to improve the quality and geographic coverage of AMR data globally.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO), Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report 2025.
