Geneva: The World Health Organization announced today, Monday, that one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections has become resistant to antibiotic treatment, calling for the responsible use of these drugs. In its report, based on data from more than 100 countries between 2016 and 2023, the organization stated that resistance rates have increased in about 40% of the samples analyzed.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern that antimicrobial resistance is accelerating faster than medical progress, posing a serious threat to global health. He emphasized the necessity of ensuring access to appropriate medicines, accurate diagnostics, and effective vaccines to combat this growing challenge.

The report highlighted that antibiotic resistance results in more than one million deaths worldwide annually. It noted that the misuse of antibiotics in the treatment of humans, animals, and plants contributes significantly to the rapid spread of resistance.

The organization further reported that the highest rates of resistance are observed in South Asia and the Middle East, where one in three infections is resistant to treatment. In Africa, the rate of resistance exceeds 70% for certain bacteria that cause bloodstream infections.