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 AMRTop story
One Health and the fight against antimicrobial resistance in Italy
The onslaught of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is of global concern for human and animal health, as well as the environment.
News
- Setting up a behavioural insights unit - WHO launches a set of considerations to support countries
- Health on Earth: a healthy planet benefits us all – World Health Day 2022
- New WHO web-based knowledge hub unravels the myriad influences behind our health behaviours
Advocacy briefs
AMR affects health in different contexts and focusing on different sectors can contribute to managing AMR.
Download the suite of advocacy documents
Multimedia
Video - Antibiotics don’t work on viruses like influenza
Key resource
Central Asian and European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance network (CAESAR)A joint initiative to survey, contain and prevent the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance in the European Region.
Publications
Central Asian and European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance. Annual report 2019
More publications
Data and statistics
33,000
The number of people who die every year in EU/EEA countries due to an infection with a resistant bacterial strain. Estimate for the whole WHO European Region is currently not available.
