Trend Antimicrobial resistance as a rapidly growing global threat

Summary

The report defines antimicrobial resistance as microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, viruses and parasites evolving to withstand treatment, which raises the risk of severe illness and death. Resistance arises naturally, but it has been made worse by careless use of antibiotics and antifungals, inadequate infection prevention and control, and poor water, sanitation and hygiene practices. This has led to more infections, imports of resistant strains, and the spread of drug-resistant strains and genes between people and animals and through the environment. The report regards AMR as a fast-growing global threat not only to public health but also to animal and plant health and food security. It records about 1.3 million deaths linked to bacterial AMR in 2019, twice the toll of malaria, and warns that the economic damage from unchecked resistance could exceed that of the 2008-2009 financial crisis.