Antimicrobial
resistance
AMR knows no boundaries –
It can affect anyone, of any age, in any country.
Map with antibiotic consumption (Europe)
Defined daily doses
per 1,000 inhabitants
37,18 - 31,37
26,62 - 20,47
18,52 - 11,49
9,78
n/a
Turkey
Greece
Serbia
Italy
France
Belgium
Poland
United Kingdom
Finland
Spain
Denmark
Portugal
Russia
Czech Republic
Norway
Sweden
Austria
Germany
Netherlands
Consequences of AMR
Globally, 700,000 deaths per year are already attributed to AMR
It is estimated that AMR has an impact of 1.5 billion EUR each year, making up extra healthcare costs and productivity losses due to multi-drug-resistant bacteria in the EU
Globally, it is estimated that only half of antibiotics are used correctly
Every three seconds, a death would be related to AMR by 2050
Infections and antibiotic consumption
150
150 million people are affected by UTIs yearly.
80
80% of suspected UTI samples turn out to be negative.
83
83% of patients may not receive any urinalysis testing before getting an antibiotic prescription.
44
44% lower odds of malaria infection when sleeping under a bed net.
Discover the fighter in you
Keep in mind
Overuse of antibiotics can cause bacteria to become resistant, meaning current treatments will no longer work.
Antibiotics are not always the answer. Do not demand antibiotics if your healthcare professional says you don’t need them.
Not all infections can be treated with antibiotics; antibiotics don’t cure viral infections such as colds and flus.
Only take antibiotics prescribed to you, do not share them with family or friends.
Above all, always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional when taking antibiotics.
Get more in-depth insights
from our expert interviews

Prof. Yamamoto
«By improving what already exists on the market and through innovations that make it possible to detect antibiotic susceptibility in a short amount of time at the GP level, Prof Yamamoto is confident we will be able make a significant difference in patient management and fighting AMR.»
«I think doctors who are not specialised in urology often judge the presence or absence of inflammation and bacteria by white blood cell reaction or nitrite on the urine test strips. […] Even if you are not a specialist, a doctor who can often diagnoses cystitis should use more specialised testing.»
Think you know what AMR is now?
Test your knowledge here!
Question: 0
True or false:
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when the body becomes resistant to antibiotics?
This is a common misconception; it is actually the bacteria themselves that can develop resistance to standard treatment, not the human body. These bacteria can then spread to other people and cause infections.
Question: 0
What is the difference between antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic resistance?
Question 2 Explanation","Antibiotic resistance is a subset of AMR. AMR also includes medications that are resistant to viruses (e.g. HIV, hepatitis), parasites (p. falciparum malaria) and fungi (candida).
Question: 0
Where are antimicrobial-resistant bacteria found?
The World Health Organization says antimicrobial-resistant organisms are in every country. There is a form of tuberculosis (TB) that is already resistant to the 2 most powerful anti-TB drugs. As of July 2016, resistance to the first-line treatment for P. falciparum malaria (artemisinin-based combination therapies, also known as ACTs) has been confirmed in 5 countries of the Greater Mekong subregion (Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam). In 2010, an estimated 7% of people starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) in developing countries had drug-resistant HIV.
Question: 0
What can happen if you get an antimicrobial-resistant infection?
You can prevent AMR by staying healthy. Keep up to date on your vaccines, use safe practices while cooking, wash and sanitise your hands regularly, and be smart if you do become sick. Do not take antibiotics if you have a viral infection and don’t share antibiotics with others.
Question: 0
Which of the following illnesses cannot be treated with antibiotics?
Influenza (as well as the common cold) is caused by a virus. Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections, not viral infections. Taking antibiotics for a viral infection won’t help and can contribute to the rise of AMR.