WHO Warns of Alarming Rise in Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections Threatening Global Health

Antimicrobial-resistant superbugs are responsible for nearly 5 million deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization.

Switzerland:

The World Health Organization issued an urgent warning on Monday regarding the alarming increase in drug-resistant bacterial infections, which is undermining the effectiveness of essential medical treatments and transforming minor injuries and common infections into potentially fatal conditions.

The UN health agency reported that one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide demonstrated resistance to antibiotic treatments in 2023.

"These findings are deeply concerning," stated Yvan J-F. Hutin, who heads the WHO's antimicrobial resistance department, during a press briefing.

"As antibiotic resistance continues to rise, we're running out of treatment options and we're putting lives at risk."

Bacteria have historically developed resistance against medications designed to combat them, rendering numerous drugs ineffective.

This process has been accelerated by the widespread use of antibiotics in human treatment, animal husbandry, and food production.

According to the WHO, antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) superbugs directly cause over one million deaths and contribute to nearly five million deaths annually.

In a comprehensive report on AMR surveillance, the WHO examined resistance prevalence across 22 antibiotics used to treat urinary and gastrointestinal tract infections, bloodstream infections, and gonorrhea.

'Flying blind'

The report revealed that in the five years leading up to 2023, antibiotic resistance increased in over 40 percent of monitored antibiotics, with an average annual rise between five and 15 percent.

For urinary tract infections, resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics typically exceeded 30 percent globally.

The study focused on eight common bacterial pathogens, including E. coli and K. pneumoniae, which can cause severe bloodstream infections often resulting in sepsis, organ failure, and death.

The WHO highlighted that more than 40 percent of E. coli infections and 55 percent of K. pneumoniae infections globally now demonstrate resistance to third-generation cephalosporins—the first-line treatment for these infections.

"Antimicrobial resistance is outpacing advances in modern medicine, threatening the health of families worldwide," warned WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in an official statement.

While acknowledging improvements in surveillance, the WHO expressed concern that 48 percent of countries still do not report any AMR data.

"We are definitely flying blind in a number of countries and regions that have insufficient surveillance systems for antimicrobial resistance," Hutin admitted.

'Future threat'

Based on available data, the highest resistance rates were found in regions with weaker healthcare systems and less robust surveillance.

The Southeast Asian and Eastern Mediterranean regions exhibited the highest resistance levels, with one in three reported infections being resistant.

In the African region, approximately one in five infections showed resistance.

Silvia Bertagnolio, who leads the WHO's antimicrobial resistance surveillance unit, explained to reporters that higher resistance rates in areas with weaker health systems are not surprising, as these regions may lack the capacity to effectively diagnose or treat pathogens.

The disparities might also be attributed to the fact that countries with less comprehensive surveillance may only test and provide data on patients with the most severe infections.

The WHO has warned that there are insufficient new diagnostic tests and treatments in development to address the growing spread of drug-resistant bacteria.

This creates a significant "future threat," cautioned Hutin.

"The increasing antibiotic use, the increasing resistance and the reduction of the pipeline is a very dangerous combination."