Geneva, 13 October 2025 — A new World Health Organization (WHO) Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report has revealed alarming levels of resistance in common bacterial infections, underscoring the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to global health systems.
Key Findings
- One in six bacterial infections worldwide in 2023 was resistant to at least one antibiotic treatment.
- Resistance increased in over 40% of monitored drug-pathogen combinations between 2018 and 2023, with annual rises of 5–15%.
- Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, showed particularly high resistance to both first-line antibiotics (such as third-generation cephalosporins) and last-resort treatments like carbapenems.
- The highest resistance rates were recorded in South-East Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean, where nearly one in three infections was resistant, followed by Africa at one in five.
Global Impact
The WHO warned that antimicrobial resistance is already responsible for 1.27 million deaths annually and contributes to nearly five million deaths worldwide. Rising resistance prolongs hospital stays, increases healthcare costs, and threatens the effectiveness of routine medical procedures such as surgery, chemotherapy, and childbirth.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the findings as a wake-up call: “Antimicrobial resistance is outpacing advances in modern medicine, threatening the health of families worldwide. We must use antibiotics responsibly and ensure access to quality medicines, diagnostics, and vaccines.”
Data Gaps and Surveillance
The report drew on data from 104 countries in 2023, a fourfold increase in participation since 2016, reflecting improved global surveillance through the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS). However, WHO noted significant data gaps remain, particularly in regions most affected by resistant infections, limiting the ability to track and respond effectively.
Call to Action
The WHO urged governments to:
- Strengthen national surveillance systems and close data gaps.
- Invest in new antibiotics and rapid diagnostics, as the global drug pipeline remains “alarmingly dry.”
- Promote responsible antibiotic use in human health, agriculture, and veterinary sectors.
- Expand public awareness and education to reduce misuse and overuse of antibiotics.
Outlook
The report concludes that antibiotic resistance is no longer a distant threat but a present global crisis. Without coordinated international action, resistant infections could cause trillions in economic losses by 2030 and render many modern medical treatments ineffective.
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