A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights a sharp rise in antibiotic resistance worldwide, signaling growing challenges for infection control and treatment. The 2025 Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report, drawing on data from more than 100 countries, analyzed 22 antibiotics used to treat eight common bacterial pathogens through the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS).
Key Findings
- One in six bacterial infections globally was resistant to antibiotics in 2023.
- Resistance increased in over 40% of monitored pathogens between 2018 and 2023, with rates rising 5% to 15% annually for most pathogen–antibiotic pairs.
- Gram-negative bacteria—including E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae—pose a growing threat, with more than 40% of strains resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, a first-line treatment.
- The effectiveness of critical antibiotics such as carbapenems and fluoroquinolones continues to decline against bacteria like Salmonella and Acinetobacter.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned that “antimicrobial resistance is outpacing advances in modern medicine,” urging global action to strengthen infection prevention, responsible antibiotic use, and innovation in next-generation treatments and diagnostics.
Healthcare professionals are encouraged to stay informed, promote antibiotic stewardship, and ensure access to quality-assured medicines, diagnostics, and vaccines as part of global AMR prevention efforts.
Resources: Global antibiotic resistance surveillance report 2025