Antibiotic resistance is making some bacterial infections increasingly difficult to treat as medicines become less effective against resistant pathogens. The growing problem threatens routine medical care, increases the risk of complications and places additional pressure on health systems worldwide.
The common cold and a runny nose are exclusively caused by viruses; the presence of thick green or yellow mucus is typical and does not indicate a bacterial infection.
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is a viral respiratory condition that necessitates rest, hydration, or specific antiviral medications if addressed promptly.
Acute bronchitis, often referred to as chest colds, typically results in a persistent cough but is almost always viral in individuals who are otherwise healthy.
Most sinus infections and ear infections often begin as viral upper respiratory inflammation and typically resolve independently without the need for prescription medications.
However, it is common for individuals to resort to antibiotics in an attempt to eliminate these illnesses.
Today, the world is facing another health problem – and it’s becoming serious.
According to a recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO), one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections responsible for common infections globally in 2023 exhibited resistance to antibiotic treatments.
The report indicated that from 2018 to 2023, antibiotic resistance increased in more than 40% of the monitored pathogen-antibiotic combinations, with an average annual rise of 5–15%. 3
Data submitted to the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) from over 100 countries warns that the escalating resistance to vital antibiotics represents an increasing threat to global health.
The Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report 2025 introduces, for the first time, estimates of resistance prevalence across 22 antibiotics utilized for treating infections of the urinary and gastrointestinal tracts, bloodstream infections, and those addressing gonorrhoea.
The report encompasses eight prevalent bacterial pathogens – Acinetobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, non-typhoidal Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae – each associated with one or more of these infections.
“Antimicrobial resistance is outpacing advances in modern medicine, threatening the health of families worldwide,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “As countries strengthen their antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance systems, we must use antibiotics responsibly, and make sure everyone has access to the right medicines, quality-assured diagnostics, and vaccines.
“Our future also depends on strengthening systems to prevent, diagnose and treat infections and on innovating with next-generation antibiotics and rapid point-of-care molecular tests,” the WHO chief added.
The report notes that drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are becoming more dangerous worldwide, with the greatest burden falling on countries least equipped to respond. Among these, E. coli and K. pneumoniae are the leading drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria found in bloodstream infections.
These infections are among the most critical bacterial diseases, frequently leading to sepsis, organ failure, and mortality. However, more than 40% of E. coli and over 55% of K. pneumoniae worldwide have developed resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, which are the primary treatment for these infections. In the African Region, resistance rates exceed 70%.
Other vital antibiotics that are crucial for saving lives, such as carbapenems and fluoroquinolones, are becoming less effective against E. coli, K. pneumoniae, Salmonella, and Acinetobacter.
The occurrence of carbapenem resistance, which was once uncommon, is now increasing, thereby limiting treatment alternatives and necessitating the use of last-resort antibiotics. These antibiotics are often expensive, challenging to obtain, and frequently unavailable in low- and middle-income nations.
In the Philippines, AMR represents a significant and worsening public health emergency. It results in over 13,000 direct fatalities and is linked to more than 50,000 deaths each year. The high prevalence of self-medication, the availability of medications without prescriptions, and extensive agricultural use contribute to this concealed pandemic.
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