The WHO reports antimicrobial resistance directly caused 1.91 million deaths in 2024, surpassing HIV/AIDS as a leading infectious disease killer.
The World Health Organization has released its 2025 Global Antimicrobial Resistance Report, revealing that drug-resistant infections directly caused 1.91 million deaths worldwide in 2024, a 50% increase from the 1.27 million deaths recorded in 2019. The report marks the first time antimicrobial resistance has surpassed HIV/AIDS as a leading cause of death from infectious disease.
The most alarming increases were seen in drug-resistant gram-negative bacteria, particularly carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii. These organisms, common causes of hospital-acquired infections, now show resistance rates exceeding 50% in many countries, leaving clinicians with few or no effective treatment options.
South and Southeast Asia bore the heaviest burden, accounting for 40% of global AMR deaths. Sub-Saharan Africa followed with 25%, driven by limited access to second-line antibiotics and inadequate infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities. However, the report emphasized that AMR is a universal threat, with significant increases in resistant infections also documented in Europe and North America.
The WHO identified several key drivers of the accelerating crisis. Inappropriate antibiotic use in human medicine remains prevalent, with an estimated 50% of antibiotics prescribed in outpatient settings being unnecessary. Agricultural use of antibiotics, particularly in livestock production, continues to contribute to resistance development despite regulatory efforts in some countries.
Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Assistant Director-General for AMR, called the findings a global emergency requiring immediate and coordinated action. She announced a new $4 billion AMR Action Fund to accelerate the development of novel antibiotics, diagnostics, and alternative therapies.
The report also highlighted success stories. Countries that implemented national action plans on AMR, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Thailand, have seen slower increases in resistance rates compared to nations without coordinated strategies. Hospital-based antimicrobial stewardship programs have demonstrated up to 30% reductions in inappropriate antibiotic prescribing.
The WHO recommended five priority actions: strengthening surveillance networks, improving infection prevention in healthcare facilities, reducing unnecessary antibiotic use, accelerating research and development of new antimicrobials, and increasing investment in water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure in low-resource settings.