World Health Organization (WHO), has expressed concern about the rising resistance to antibiotics among common bacterial infections. This is especially true for bacteria that can cause life-threatening infections in the bloodstream. The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a report that shows high levels of antibiotic resistance in bacteria like Klebsiella spp. and Acinetobacter species.
The report stated that “these life-threatening infections must be treated with antibiotics of last resort, such as carbapenems.” However, 8 percent of bloodstream infection caused Klebsiella pneumonia were reported to be resistant to carbapenems. This increases the risk of death from unmanageable bacteria.
The UN’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance (GLASS), report is based upon data provided by 87 nations in 2020.
More bacteria are becoming resistant to treatment
Many other common bacterial infection are becoming more resistant to treatment. According to the report, this includes:
Neisseria , a sexually transmitted disease, has become resistant to the oral antibacterial ciprofloxacin.
E.coli is the most common cause for urinary tract infection. Over 20% of E.coli isolates are resistant to first-line antibiotics (ampicillin and cotrimoxazole), as well as second-line treatment (fluoroquinolones).
Antimicrobial resistance has also increased in bloodstream infections caused by Salmonella and Escherichia. The rates of gonorrhoea and other infections have increased at least 15% compared to 2017.
The Director-General of WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus, noted that Antimicrobial Resistance places millions of lives in danger. He stressed the importance to increase microbiology testing throughout all countries to combat this worldwide threat.
WHO’s report states that “responding to trends in antimicrobial resistant requires high-level engagement from countries to increase surveillance capacity and to provide quality assured data, as well as actions by all people and community.”
GLASS is now a global initiative with 127 countries participating, which represents 72 percent of the population.
