Geneva — The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns about the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant bacterial infections, which threaten the effectiveness of critical medical treatments. The agency reported that one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide in 2023 exhibited resistance to antibiotic therapies.
Yvan J-F. Hutin, head of the WHO’s antimicrobial resistance department, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that the rise in antibiotic resistance is diminishing treatment options and endangering lives. The development of resistance in bacteria has been exacerbated by the widespread use of antibiotics in humans, animals, and food production.
According to WHO estimates, antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) superbugs are responsible for over one million deaths annually and contribute to nearly five million additional deaths. The organization’s recent report on AMR surveillance analyzed resistance rates for 22 antibiotics used to treat various infections, revealing that resistance increased for more than 40 percent of the monitored antibiotics over the past five years.
The report highlighted that resistance rates for commonly used antibiotics in urinary tract infections exceeded 30 percent globally. It focused on eight common bacterial pathogens, including E. coli and K. pneumoniae, which can lead to severe bloodstream infections and complications such as sepsis.
The WHO noted that over 40 percent of E. coli infections and 55 percent of K. pneumoniae infections are now resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, the preferred treatment for these conditions. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that antimicrobial resistance is advancing faster than medical innovations, posing a significant threat to global health.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a nearly 70 percent increase in infections from drug-resistant bacteria, known as “nightmare bacteria,” between 2019 and 2023. The WHO acknowledged improvements in AMR surveillance but indicated that nearly half of countries still do not report any AMR data.
Silvia Bertagnolio, who leads the WHO’s antimicrobial resistance surveillance unit, noted that higher resistance rates are often found in regions with weaker health systems, which may lack the resources to effectively diagnose and treat infections. The WHO cautioned that the current lack of new tests and treatments to combat drug-resistant bacteria poses a serious future threat to public health.
