WHO warns of escalating global antibiotic resistance crisis
New data from over 100 countries shows rising resistance to common treatments, posing a growing threat to public health worldwide.
One in six bacterial infections reported globally in 2023 was resistant to antibiotic treatment, according to a new World Health Organisation (WHO) report warning of a deepening global health crisis.The Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report 2025 reveals that between 2018 and 2023, resistance increased in more than 40% of the pathogen–antibiotic combinations monitored, with an average annual rise of 5 to 15%.
The findings draw on data from over 100 countries participating in the WHO’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS).
The report presents, for the first time, resistance prevalence estimates for 22 key antibiotics used to treat infections of the urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, bloodstream and gonorrhoea. Eight common bacterial pathogens were analysed, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Regional disparities, rising risks
Antibiotic resistance remains highest in the WHO South-East Asian and Eastern Mediterranean regions, where one in three reported infections was resistant. In Africa, one in five infections showed resistance, often in areas with limited diagnostic capacity and treatment options.
“Antimicrobial resistance is outpacing advances in modern medicine, threatening the health of families worldwide,” said Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “We must use antibiotics responsibly and ensure equitable access to quality medicines, diagnostics, and vaccines.”
Drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, such as E. coli and K. pneumoniae, are emerging as the most dangerous pathogens, particularly in bloodstream infections that can lead to sepsis, organ failure and death. More than 40% of E. coli and over 55% of K. pneumoniae isolates globally are now resistant to third-generation cephalosporins — the standard first-line treatment. In parts of Africa, resistance exceeds 70%.
Last-resort antibiotics
Other vital antibiotics, including carbapenems and fluoroquinolones, are also losing effectiveness. Carbapenem resistance, once rare, is increasing rapidly, forcing healthcare systems to rely on last-resort antibiotics that are costly and often unavailable in low- and middle-income countries.
The number of countries contributing data to GLASS has grown from 25 in 2016 to 104 in 2023. However, nearly half did not report data last year, and many lack robust systems to generate reliable surveillance information.
The WHO says stronger laboratory capacity and reliable data are critical to tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The 2024 UN General Assembly’s political declaration on AMR set out commitments for countries to strengthen health systems through a “One Health” approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health.
Coordinated global action
WHO has urged all countries to submit high-quality AMR and antimicrobial use data to GLASS by 2030. Achieving this goal, it says, will require better data quality, broader geographic coverage, and stronger coordination across all levels of healthcare.
The report is accompanied by expanded digital resources through the WHO’s GLASS dashboard, offering global and regional summaries, country profiles, and detailed antimicrobial use data. - Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organisation