Take control of you and your community’s health – use antibiotics wisely

Bacteria are becoming resistant to medicines at an increasing rate, turning once-treatable
infections into potentially life-threatening conditions. This growing crisis – known as
antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – is deepening health inequalities across our society:

People in deprived areas face a 42% higher risk of developing antibiotic-resistant
infections
While 90% of antibiotic-resistant infections occur in white ethnic groups, Asian and
Asian British communities experience the highest proportion of antibiotic resistant
infections (nearly 40% of infections)
Our declining ability to treat and prevent infections is having an increasing impact,
particularly on our poorest communities, who are already more likely to face barriers
in accessing healthcare.

Why is this happening? While bacteria naturally develop resistance over time, the misuse
and overuse of antibiotics is speeding up this process, putting our most vulnerable
communities at risk.

Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Executive of UKHSA, said:

“Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest health threats we face.
More people than ever are acquiring infections that cannot be effectively treated by
antibiotics. This puts them at greater risk of serious illness and even death, with our poorest communities hit the hardest.

We are united with partners globally in finding new ways to tackle this complex problem.
This includes using antibiotics in a way that doesn’t contribute to the spread of resistance,
researching new types of treatments and preventing infections from occurring in the first
place.

It’s positive that we’ve seen antibiotic use fall in England within the NHS but we need to go further, faster. Please remember to only take antibiotics if you have been told to do so by a healthcare professional. Do not save some for later or share them with friends and family. If you have leftover antibiotics, please bring them to a pharmacy for appropriate disposal.

It’s also important to take up the vaccinations you are eligible for to help stop infections in the first place.”

Take action to protect you and your community:

Remember: Antibiotics are ineffective against colds and flu. Your body can fight these
infections on their own.

Only use antibiotics when prescribed by a healthcare professional
Always complete the full course as directed by your healthcare professional
Never save antibiotics for later, or share them with anyone else.

Common Questions

What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?

Antimicrobials, including antibiotics, are used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals, and plants. However, the more we use these medicines excessively or inappropriately, the more the bugs they target evolve to survive and the antimicrobials stop working. This is known as AMR. Examples of misuse include taking antibiotics for viral infections, such as colds, sore throats, or coughs, which cannot be treated by antibiotics.

Who does AMR affect?

AMR can impact anyone. It threatens our ability to treat common infections and to perform life-saving procedures. Without effective modern antibiotics and other antimicrobial treatments, patients facing health issues, such as cancer treatment, colorectal surgery, hip replacements, caesarean sections or those harmed in war zones, will be more likely to die from infections.

How serious is AMR?

Every day, antibiotic resistance means we struggle to treat patients. Antibiotic resistance means that bacteria are less likely to respond to first line treatments, which can lead to serious complications, including bloodstream infections, sepsis and
hospitalisation. People who get a bacterial infection that is resistant to one or more
antibiotics are more likely to die within 30 days compared to those who have an antibiotic sensitive infection.

Antimicrobial resistance is not a crisis of the future, but one that is with us right now.

What can I do to reduce AMR?

Always follow your doctor, nurse or pharmacist’s advice as to whether you need antibiotics. If they are prescribed, take them as directed, and never share them with friends and family or save antibiotics for later use.

You can also reduce the risks of AMR by reducing infections in the first place – take up the vaccinations you are eligible for and practice good hygiene like hand washing.

How are UKHSA and partners tackling AMR?

Alongside partners, we have made important progress in recent years. We have developed cutting-edge surveillance, techniques and modelling to inform interventions, with ongoing research to improve prescribing practices. We are also continually testing different therapeutic approaches to treat multidrug resistant organisms.

Everyone can help us in this fight by only taking antibiotics if you have been told to do so by a healthcare professional. Do not save some for later or share them with friends and family. Treat antibiotics with respect and they will be there to help us all in the future.

Statistics

The latest English Surveillance of Antibiotic Prescribing and Utilisation Report (ESPAUR) shows:

Bloodstream infections have risen by 6% since 2023, from approximately 73,500 to nearly 184,000 cases. The rate per 100,000 people has also increased, mainly driven by E. coli, which now causes about 70% of these infections.
Resistant infections, which declined during COVID-19, are increasing again, surpassing previous highs and raising alarm. These resistant bacteria now exceed previous levels.
Most infections occur in white people, comprising nearly 88% of cases, with about 20% resistant to key antibiotics. Asian/Asian British individuals face nearly double the resistant infection rate compared to whites. Socioeconomic disparities are evident: poorer areas have 47% more resistant infections, a gap that has widened since 2019.
Age-wise, adults 45 and older are most affected, especially those over 75. The risk of death increases with age; over 85s face a 20% 30-day mortality in some cases. Young children under 1 have higher death rates than those aged 1–14, though overall risk is lower in children.
Bacteria resistant to critical antibiotics increase mortality; about 17% of resistant infection cases result in death, compared to 15% in non-resistant cases.

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