Is Antimicrobial Resistance Outpacing Advances in Modern Medicine?
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Synopsis
The WHO warns that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is outpacing medical advancements, leading to a rise in resistant infections globally. With alarming statistics revealed from recent data, urgent action is needed to address this growing threat to public health. Discover how this issue impacts healthcare and what steps are essential for the future.
Key Takeaways
- AMR is a growing threat to global health, outpacing medical advancements.
- One in six bacterial infections are now resistant to antibiotics.
- Over 40% of monitored pathogen-antibiotic combinations showed rising resistance.
- Urgent action is required from nations to address AMR effectively.
- Healthcare systems must be strengthened to improve diagnosis and treatment of infections.
New Delhi, Oct 13 (NationPress) Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is swiftly outstripping advancements in contemporary medicine, with resistant infections surging in hospitals worldwide, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) in a newly released report on Monday.
The findings, derived from data encompassing 104 countries in 2023 and 110 countries from 2016 to 2023, indicate that one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections responsible for common ailments globally in 2023 were resistant to antibiotic therapies.
Between 2018 and 2023, antibiotic resistance escalated in over 40 percent of the pathogen-antibiotic pairings observed, with an average yearly increase ranging from 5 to 15 percent.
“Antimicrobial resistance is surpassing the advancements in modern medicine, jeopardizing the health of families globally,” stated Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
“As nations enhance their AMR surveillance frameworks, we must utilize antibiotics judiciously and ensure everyone has access to appropriate medications, reliable diagnostics, and vaccines. Our future hinges on fortifying systems to prevent, detect, and treat infections, as well as on innovating next-generation antibiotics and rapid point-of-care molecular testing,” he further emphasized.
Data submitted to the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) from over 100 countries warns that the rising resistance to crucial antibiotics presents an escalating threat to global health.
The Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report 2025 reveals, for the first time, resistance prevalence estimates across 22 antibiotics utilized in treating infections of the urinary and gastrointestinal tracts, bloodstream, and those employed against gonorrhea.
The WHO has estimated that antibiotic resistance is most prevalent in the WHO South-East Asian and Eastern Mediterranean Regions, where one in three reported infections exhibited resistance. In the African Region, one in five infections was resistant.
Resistance is also increasingly frequent and worsening in areas where health systems lack the capacity to diagnose or treat bacterial pathogens, the report highlighted.
“Essential life-saving antibiotics, such as carbapenems and fluoroquinolones, are diminishing in effectiveness against E. coli, K. pneumoniae, Salmonella, and Acinetobacter. Carbapenem resistance, once uncommon, is becoming more prevalent, limiting treatment options and compelling reliance on last-resort antibiotics. These antibiotics are expensive, hard to procure, and often unavailable in low- and middle-income nations,” the report stated.
The WHO urged all nations to enhance coordinated efforts aimed at tackling antimicrobial resistance across all healthcare levels and ensure that treatment guidelines and essential medicines lists are aligned with local resistance patterns.
Point of View
I emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). This issue transcends regional boundaries and requires a unified approach from all nations to enhance healthcare systems and ensure the responsible use of antibiotics. The data presented by the WHO is a clarion call for action that we cannot ignore.
NationPress
29/11/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist the effects of medications, making common infections harder to treat.
Why is AMR a global health threat?
AMR poses a significant threat to global health as it complicates the treatment of infections, leading to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and increased mortality.
How can we combat AMR?
Combating AMR requires responsible antibiotic use, improved diagnostics, enhanced surveillance systems, and the development of new antibiotics and treatments.
What are the regions most affected by AMR?
The WHO reports that the South-East Asian and Eastern Mediterranean regions are the most affected, with a high prevalence of resistant infections.
What role do healthcare systems play in AMR?
Healthcare systems play a crucial role in diagnosing and treating infections, and their capacity affects the prevalence of AMR. Strengthening these systems is essential to combat resistance.
