WHO warns of surge in drug-resistant bacterial infections

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(NewsNation) — The World Health Organization is sounding the alarm on the rising number of drug-resistant bacterial infections.

In a report published Monday, the WHO said 1 in 6 lab-confirmed bacterial infections did not respond to antibiotic treatments.

WHO examined resistance prevalence estimates for 22 antibiotics used to treat infections of the urinary and gastrointestinal tracts, the bloodstream and those used to treat gonorrhea, and found that from 2018 to 2023, antibiotic resistance rose in more than 40% of the pathogen-antibiotic combinations monitored, with an average annual increase of 5% to 15%.

The report also looked at eight common bacterial pathogens, including E. coli and K. pneumoniae. These pathogens can lead to severe bloodstream infections that frequently result in sepsis, organ failure and death.

More than 40% of E. coli and over 55% of K. pneumoniae infections globally are now resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, which is the first-choice treatment for these infections.

The organization said the findings were deeply troubling because without working treatments, that means minor injuries and common infections could potentially become deadly, and that there are not enough new tests and treatments in the pipeline to tackle the growing spread of drug-resistant bacteria.

“Antimicrobial resistance is outpacing advances in modern medicine, threatening the health of families worldwide,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

WHO data shows antimicrobial-resistant superbugs directly cause over a million deaths and contribute to nearly five million deaths every year.