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Today, modern health care depends on antimicrobial drugs to prevent and treat infections. Antimicrobial resistance threatens the health care sector’s ability to control infections efficiently.

Definition of antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is 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.

 

What do antibiotics do

Antibacterial drugs are used to prevent and treat bacterial infections, such as tuberculosis, and bloodstream, wound, respiratory-tract and sexually transmitted infections. Their overuse, misuse and underuse have led to the emergence and increase in resistant bacteria.

The more antibiotics are used, the higher the risk of resistance. The food industry’s increased use of antibiotics can lead to the further emergence of resistant bacteria and genes that threaten human health.

 

Concern: increased resistance among hospital-acquired infections

As resistance increases, the number of effective antibiotics is decreasing. This means that, one day, no antibiotics may be left to fight life-threatening diseases. A big problem can already be found in hospitals. An inability to use the right antibiotics for critically ill patients, owing to bacteria’s resistance, could seriously jeopardize these people’s chances of survival.

 

The situation in Europe

AMR and particularly resistance to antibiotics are an increasing, global problem for public health. In the WHO European Region, the resistance of some pathogens now reaches over 50 % in some countries, and new resistant mechanism  are emerging and spreading rapidly. In the European Union, Norway and Iceland, for example, 400 000 resistant infections are estimated to occur every year, leading to about 25 000 deaths, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Measures including good hygiene (especially hand washing), surveillance and vaccination can and should be used to prevent health-care-associated infections.

What is WHO Europe doing to fight antibiotic resistance?

The 53 countries in the Region adopted a strategic action plan on AMR in 2011. It identifies key areas for action to protect and has 7 strategic objectives.

1. Strengthen intersectoral coordination.
2. Strengthen surveillance of antibiotic resistance.
3. Promote rational use and strengthen surveillance of antibiotic consumption.
4. Strengthen infection control and surveillance in health care settings.
5. Prevent emerging resistance in the veterinary and food sectors.
6. Promote innovation and research on new drugs.
7. Improve awareness, patient safety, and partnership.

Patron for WHO/Europe

Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary of Denmark became Patron of the WHO Regional Office for Europe in 2005. The Crown Princess is active in raising public awareness about antimicrobial resistance as part of her support for the work of WHO/Europe.