The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a shocking new report that reveals high levels of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, leading to potentially life-threatening infections. The report, which is based on data from 87 countries in 2020, shows that resistance to treatment is increasing in several common infections
In particular, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter spp. were found to have resistance levels above 50%. These bacteria are commonly found in hospitals and require treatment with last-resort antibiotics like carbapenems. However, the report also showed that 8% of bloodstream infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae were resistant to carbapenems, increasing the risk of death from unmanageable infections.
“Antimicrobial resistance is a major threat to modern medicine and global public health,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “To effectively address this issue, we must increase microbiology testing and provide quality-assured data from all countries, not just wealthier ones.”
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According to new research, antibiotic-resistant infections such as those caused by Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. have increased by at least 15% in the last 4 years. This rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been attributed in part to the increased use of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts warn that further research is needed to understand the reasons behind the increase in AMR and its impact on hospitalizations and treatments.
A new study has found that countries with a lower testing coverage are more likely to report significantly higher levels of antibiotic resistance. The findings suggest that in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), a limited number of referral hospitals are responsible for reporting to global AMR surveillance systems, often caring for the sickest patients who may have received previous antibiotic treatment.
This may be contributing to higher rates of AMR in LMICs. Global median levels of AMR were found to be 42% for E. coli and 35% for MRSA, but when only countries with high testing coverage were considered, these levels dropped to 11% and 6.8%, respectively. These findings highlight the need for improved surveillance and testing in LMICs to accurately assess and address the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a plan to combat the rising rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in low- and middle-income countries. Due to insufficient slow rate of test conduction and weak laboratory capacity, AMR rates are difficult to interpret and pose a critical threat to global health. To address this issue, WHO will set up different approaches focusing on short-term evidence generation through surveys and long-term capacity building for routine surveillance.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing concern globally, as more and more bacteria and other microorganisms develop the ability to resist the effects of antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs. This can make it difficult to treat infections and can lead to the spread of deadly diseases.
To address this issue, countries need to take a number of steps. One of the most important steps is to improve surveillance capacity and collect quality-assured data on AMR and antimicrobial consumption (AMC). Another important step is to raise awareness among the general public and communities about the importance of using antimicrobial drugs responsibly. By taking these steps, we can help to protect the effectiveness of antimicrobial drugs for future generations, and reduce the spread of AMR.
