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
Don’t let the COVID-19 crisis become an AMR catastrophe – countries put their weight behind World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2020
Partners and other organizations in Member States conducted a wide range of activities to raise awareness about antimicrobial resistance (AMR), operating within local restrictions and shifting events online to keep participants safe.
News
- Don’t let the COVID-19 crisis become an AMR catastrophe – countries put their weight behind World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2020
- Next steps to deliver “United Action for Better Health” in Europe
- Launch of the Virtual Library of good practices in the response to tuberculosis, HIV and viral hepatitis, and a call for submissions
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.
