Antimicrobial resistance: global report on surveillance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi. This report examines the current status of surveillance and information on AMR, in particular antibacterial resistance (ABR), at country level worldwide.

Key findings and public health implications of ABR are:

• Very high rates of resistance have been observed in bacteria that cause common health-care associated and community-acquired infections (e.g. urinary tract infection, pneumonia) in all WHO regions.
• There are significant gaps in surveillance, and a lack of standards for methodology, data sharing and coordination.

Key findings from AMR surveillance in disease-specific programmes are as follows:

• Although multidrug-resistant TB is a growing concern, it is largely under-reported, compromising control efforts.
• Foci of artemisinin resistance in malaria have been identified in a few countries. Further spread, or emergence in other regions, of artemisininresistant strains could jeopardize important recent gains in malaria control.
• Increasing levels of transmitted anti-HIV drug resistance have been detected among patients starting antiretroviral treatment.

​This report shows major gaps in ABR surveillance, and the urgent need to strengthen collaboration on global AMR surveillance. WHO will therefore facilitate:

• development of tools and standards for harmonized surveillance of ABR in humans, and for integrating that surveillance with surveillance of ABR in foodproducing animals and the food chain
• elaboration of strategies for population-based surveillance of AMR and its health and economic impact
• collaboration between AMR surveillance networks and centres to create or strengthen coordinated regional and global surveillance.

AMR is a global health security threat that requires concerted cross-sectional action by governments and society as a whole. Surveillance that generates reliable data is the essential basis of sound global strategies and public health actions to contain AMR, and is urgently needed around the world.