Antimicrobial Resistance Crisis: Common Infections Becoming Harder to Treat as Drug-Resistant Germs Spread Globally
核心洞察
Nearly one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide were resistant to antibiotic treatments in 2023, according to WHO data, signaling a worsening global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis.
Resistance increased in more than 40% of monitored pathogen-antibiotic combinations between 2018 and 2023, with average annual increases of 5% to 15%, and bacterial AMR was associated with over 4.7 million deaths globally in 2021.
WHO warns that new antibiotic development is not progressing fast enough to replace medicines losing effectiveness, while the global antibiotic resistance market is projected to grow from USD 8.9 billion in 2025 to USD 16.55 billion by 2035.
Medicines that once saved millions of lives are gradually losing their power as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) emerges as a growing global threat. From common infections to life-threatening diseases, drug-resistant germs are making treatments more complicated and putting millions of people at risk worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Antimicrobials are medicines used to prevent and treat infectious diseases in humans, animals and plants, including antibiotics (搜索), antivirals (搜索), antifungals (搜索) and antiparasitic medicines (搜索). AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites develop the ability to resist these medicines, making treatments less effective or, in some cases, ineffective. As a result, infections become harder to control, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability and deaths.
The Scale of the Resistance Crisis
WHO data shows that in 2023, nearly one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide were resistant to antibiotic treatments. Between 2018 and 2023, resistance increased in more than 40% of monitored pathogen-antibiotic combinations, with an average annual increase of 5% to 15%. The situation is particularly concerning in the WHO South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean regions, where approximately one in three reported infections showed resistance.
Bacterial AMR was associated with more than 4.7 million deaths globally in 2021, according to WHO's July 2026 fact sheet. Drug-resistant bacteria, including E. coli (搜索) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (搜索), are among the major concerns as they can cause severe bloodstream infections, sepsis, organ failure and death.
Antimicrobial resistance is not limited to bacteria. WHO has identified Candidozyma auris (搜索), a dangerous fungal infection, as a growing global concern due to its ability to resist multiple antifungal treatments. Drug resistance in viruses, including HIV (搜索), influenza (搜索) and hepatitis B (搜索) and C, is also creating new challenges for healthcare systems. Similarly, rising resistance among malaria (搜索)-causing parasites is threatening efforts to control and eliminate the disease.
Drivers of Antimicrobial Resistance
Experts identify the misuse and overuse of antibiotics (搜索) as one of the leading causes behind the rise of AMR. Using antibiotics without medical need, taking incorrect medicines, not completing prescribed treatment courses, poor access to clean water and sanitation, weak infection-control practices and limited diagnostic facilities are among the major factors contributing to antimicrobial resistance.
The use of antibiotics (搜索) in livestock is another essential factor contributing to antimicrobial pressure. In agriculture, antibiotics are sometimes used for the treatment of infections, prevention of disease or even to ensure production. The wide use of antibiotics in livestock contributes to the emergence of resistant bacteria that might later be transferred to humans through food, direct contact, agricultural waste, soil or water.
The impact of AMR extends beyond public health, affecting economies, societies and development. Drug-resistant infections can lead to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs and increased reliance on intensive care and advanced treatments. The growing threat also puts medical procedures such as surgeries, cancer treatments and organ transplants at greater risk, as effective antimicrobial medicines are often essential for preventing infections.
A Weak Antibiotic Development Pipeline
WHO has warned that the development of new antibiotics (搜索) is not progressing fast enough to replace medicines that are losing effectiveness, leaving fewer options available for treating resistant infections. The creation of new antibiotics is very complicated, time-consuming and costly, and there is an important issue of commercial success. When a new antibiotic is launched, it is usually prescribed only for infections caused by resistant bacteria to slow down the emergence of resistance, which can decrease the financial gains of the developer. For all such reasons, the pipeline of antibiotics has not been very strong. In 2014–2024, about 18 new antibiotics have been approved.
The global antibiotic resistance market size is estimated at USD 8.9 billion in 2025, projected to reach USD 16.55 billion by 2035, representing a 6.4% CAGR from 2026–2035.
Emerging Strategies to Combat AMR
Phage therapy is emerging as a potential alternative or complement to conventional antibiotics (搜索). Phages are viruses that naturally infect and destroy specific types of bacteria, allowing them to target harmful microorganisms while potentially causing less disruption to beneficial bacteria in the microbiome. A 2024 Nature Microbiology study involving 100 patients reported clinical improvement in 77% of participants, while bacterial eradication was observed in 61% of cases in the observational study.
Artificial intelligence is opening new opportunities for accelerating antibiotic discovery. Machine-learning models can analyse vast sets of data about chemistry and biology to find molecules with possible antibacterial properties, and the use of generative AI to design novel compounds that have the potential to be effective against microorganisms is now under consideration.
Scientists are also working on vaccines that will protect against bacterial infections, such as those caused by Staphylococcus aureus (搜索) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (搜索). In parallel, developments in the field of microbiome research contribute to understanding the role that good bacteria play in protecting people from infections caused by pathogenic bacteria.
Coordinated Global Action
WHO is leading global efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance through the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (GAP-AMR) 2026–2036. The initiative aims to ensure equal access to effective medicines, promote responsible antimicrobial use, prevent infections and encourage research and innovation for new treatments. In May 2026, the World Health Assembly adopted the updated Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2026–2036, providing a framework for coordinated action across human, animal, food and environmental health.
WHO is working with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) under the "One Health" approach, which recognizes the link between human, animal and environmental health.
Experts stress that controlling AMR requires stronger public awareness, responsible use of medicines, improved surveillance systems, better diagnostic facilities and investment in new treatments. Without timely global action, antimicrobial resistance could make even common infections difficult to treat in the future, creating a major challenge for healthcare systems worldwide.