27/07/2026
Imagine a world where common infections can no longer be treated. This could become reality as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites develop resistance to antimicrobial medicines. 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 (𝗔𝗠𝗥) makes infections harder to treat, increasing the risk of severe illness, disability, and death.
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗪𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲?
• Over 4.7 million deaths were associated with bacterial AMR in 2021.
• 1 in 6 laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections were antibiotic-resistant in 2023.
• By 2050, AMR could cause 10 million deaths annually and threaten US$100 trillion in global economic output.
• Modern healthcare- including surgery, chemotherapy, organ transplantation, and neonatal care- depends on effective antibiotics.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗠𝗥?
• Misuse and overuse of antibiotics
• Self-medication and inappropriate prescribing
• Poor infection prevention and control
• Incomplete antibiotic courses
• Limited diagnostics, vaccines, and new antibiotics
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘂𝗴𝘀
Superbugs are microorganisms resistant to multiple antibiotics, such as:
⁃ MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
⁃ VRE (Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus)
⁃ ESBL-producing Enterobacterales
⁃ Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE)
⁃ Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
⁃ Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗠𝗥?
• Use antibiotics only when necessary and as prescribed.
• Base treatment on culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) whenever possible.
• Complete the full course of antibiotics.
• Strengthen infection prevention, vaccination, and antimicrobial stewardship.
• Improve access to diagnostics, surveillance, and research for new antimicrobials.
