GENEVA, Oct. 13—The World Health Organization (WHO) warned Monday that drug-resistant bacterial infections are rising sharply worldwide, drug-resistant infections threatening the effectiveness of antibiotics and putting millions of lives at risk.

According to a new WHO report, one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections in 2023 showed resistance to antibiotic treatment. Health officials said the trend is accelerating, making once-treatable conditions potentially deadly.

“These findings are deeply concerning,” said Yvan J-F. Hutin, head of WHO’s antimicrobial resistance department. “As antibiotic resistance continues to rise, we’re running out of treatment options and we’re putting lives at risk.”

Rising drug-resistant infectionsacross major infections

The report, which examined data on 22 antibiotics used to treat urinary, gastrointestinal, bloodstream and sexually transmitted infections, found resistance increased in more than 40 percent of monitored drugs between 2018 and 2023. On average, antibiotic resistance rose five to 15 percent annually during this period.

For urinary tract infections, resistance to commonly used antibiotics exceeded 30 percent globally. Eight common bacteria were analyzed, including Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), both major causes of bloodstream infections that can lead to sepsis, organ failure and death.

The WHO reported that more than 40 percent of E. coli infections and 55 percent of K. pneumoniae infections are now resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, which are standard treatments for such cases.

“Antimicrobial resistance is outpacing advances in modern medicine, threatening the health of families worldwide,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.

Impact and surveillance challenges

The WHO estimates that antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria directly cause more than 1 million deaths each year and contribute to nearly 5 million. The report highlighted that regions with weaker health systems—especially in Southeast Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Africa—face the highest resistance rates.

In the Southeast Asian and Eastern Mediterranean regions, one in three reported infections showed resistance. In Africa, the figure stood at one in five. Silvia Bertagnolio, who leads WHO’s antimicrobial resistance surveillance unit, said the findings were linked to limited healthcare infrastructure.

“It’s not surprising that drug-resistant infections is higher in places with weaker health systems,” Bertagnolio said. “They may lack the capacity to diagnose or treat pathogens effectively.”

The organization also warned of major data gaps. Nearly half of the world’s countries—48 percent—did not report any antimicrobial resistance data in 2023.

“We are definitely flying blind in a number of countries and regions that have insufficient surveillance systems for antimicrobial resistance,” Hutin said.

Growing threat and limited solutions

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported last month that infections from drug-resistant infections “nightmare bacteria” rose nearly 70 percent between 2019 and 2023.

Experts say rising antibiotic use in humans, animals and agriculture continues to accelerate resistance, while research into new drugs and diagnostics has slowed.

“The increasing antibiotic use, the increasing resistance and the reduction of the pipeline is a very dangerous combination,” Hutin said.

The WHO emphasized the urgent need for stronger surveillance, responsible antibiotic use and investment in new treatments to counter the global threat of antimicrobial resistance.

Without action, the agency warned, common infections and minor injuries could once again become fatal, reversing decades of progress in modern medicine.

Also Read :- WHO Warns Industries to Brace for Health Policy Shifts Amid $1 Trillion Savings Potential