Antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the resistance of a microorganism to an antimicrobial medicine to which it was previously sensitive. It develops when a microorganism mutates or acquires a resistance gene. Resistant organisms (including bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa and helminths) are able to withstand attack by antimicrobial medicines such as antibiotics, antivirals and antimalarials, so that standard treatments become ineffective and infections persist and may spread to other people.

About AMR

Top story

Clean care – the everyday measure to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from health emergencies

Hand Hygiene Day on 5 May is a chance to promote the “Clean hands save lives” campaign. Everyone has the right to expect clean care, whether that care is administered in a field hospital, a care home or a state-of-the-art operating theatre.

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Call for applications

Small Grants Scheme for Operational/Implementation Research to Tackle the Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance

Deadline for submissions: 15-07-2019

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Multimedia

Video statement by Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary of Denmark for World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) 2018

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World Antibiotic Awareness Week

12–18 November 2018

Infographic

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Fact sheet on SDGs

Antimicrobial resistance (SDG target 3.3) Read more

Key resource

Central Asian and Eastern European Surveillance on Antimicrobial Resistance (CAESAR)

A joint initiative to survey, contain and prevent the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance in the European Region.

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Publications

Central Asian and Eastern European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance. Annual report 2018 More publications

Data and statistics

25 000

The number of people out of 400 000 who die every year in the European Region due to an infection with a resistant bacterial strain.

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