WHO: 1 in 6 Common Infections Now Drug-Resistant, AMR Threatens Global Health

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is accelerating worldwide, with 1 in 6 bacterial infections now resistant to standard antibiotic treatments, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2025 Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Report released today.^1,2

The findings underscore what WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called a rapidly worsening threat that “is outpacing advances in modern medicine.”

The new report—based on data from the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) covering more than 100 countries—presents, for the first time, global prevalence estimates of resistance across 22 antibiotics used to treat urinary tract, gastrointestinal, bloodstream, and gonococcal infections. It tracks resistance in eight common bacterial pathogens: Acinetobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, non-typhoidal Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae—each linked to one or more of these infections.

Between 2018 and 2023, resistance rose in more than 40% of pathogen-antibiotic combinations monitored, with an average annual increase of 5% to 15%. WHO officials warn that rising resistance rates, especially among Gram-negative bacteria, are severely undermining the effectiveness of first-line therapies for some of the world’s most common and potentially fatal infections.

Global Hotspots and Disparities

The prevalence of antibiotic resistance varies sharply by region, according to the report. The WHO South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean regions show the highest levels, with approximately 1 in 3 bacterial infections resistant to treatment. In the African Region, approximately 1 in 5 infections is resistant, while resource-limited health systems face the greatest strain.

Resistance is spreading most rapidly in countries where diagnostic capacity and antimicrobial stewardship programs are weak, creating a vicious cycle in which inadequate surveillance hampers targeted response efforts. “We must use antibiotics responsibly and make sure everyone has access to the right medicines, quality-assured diagnostics, and vaccines,” Tedros said.

Gram-Negative Pathogens Lead Crisis

The report identifies E. coli and K. pneumoniae as the major Gram-negative pathogens driving bloodstream infections that often progress to sepsis and organ failure. More than 40% of E. coli and 55% of K. pneumoniae isolates worldwide are now resistant to third-generation cephalosporins—the standard first-line therapy. In parts of Africa, cephalosporin resistance exceeds 70%.

Resistance is also climbing against carbapenems and fluoroquinolones, 2 other classes of essential antibiotics used to treat serious infections caused by E. coli, K. pneumoniae, Salmonella, and Acinetobacter species. Carbapenem resistance, once rare, is becoming increasingly frequent, narrowing treatment options and forcing clinicians to rely on last-resort drugs that are expensive, difficult to obtain, and often unavailable in low- and middle-income countries.

Data Gaps Undermine Global Response

Although participation in GLASS has expanded from 25 countries in 2016 to 104 in 2023, WHO cautions that data quality and completeness remain inconsistent. Nearly half of member states did not report AMR data last year, and many of those that did lack the infrastructure to produce reliable results.

This gap is especially concerning in regions with the highest resistance rates, where limited laboratory capacity prevents accurate assessment of national AMR trends. WHO is urging all countries to submit high-quality data to GLASS by 2030, emphasizing that comprehensive surveillance is essential to guide treatment protocols, national antibiotic policies, and global research priorities.

A “One Health” Imperative

The findings come less than a year after the United Nations General Assembly adopted a political declaration on AMR, setting global targets to curb resistance through a coordinated One Health approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health. WHO’s report reiterates that success will depend on investment in laboratory infrastructure, infection prevention, responsible prescribing, and innovation in new antimicrobials and rapid diagnostics.

Tedros emphasized that combating AMR will require countries to strengthen systems that prevent, diagnose, and treat infections, while advancing innovation in antibiotics and molecular diagnostics. WHO officials stress that without urgent global coordination and sustained investment, the world risks losing one of the cornerstones of modern medicine.

References
1. WHO warns of widespread resistance to common antibiotics worldwide. World Health Organization. October 13, 3025. Accessed October 13, 2025. https://www.who.int/news/item/13-10-2025-who-warns-of-widespread-resistance-to-common-antibiotics-worldwide

2. Global antibiotic resistance surveillance report 2025. October 13, 3025. Accessed October 13, 2025. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116337

3. World leaders commit to decisive action on antimicrobial resistance. World Health Organization. September 26, 2024. Accessed October 13, 2025. https://www.who.int/news/item/26-09-2024-world-leaders-commit-to-decisive-action-on-antimicrobial-resistance