Government a long way from achieving its vision of containing antimicrobial resistance

A new report from the National Audit Office reveals that the UK government’s response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has made limited progress over the last five years. AMR is a serious global threat, with the UK contributing to an estimated 35,200 deaths annually. Despite a 20-year vision, a cross-government approach, and innovative solutions like subscription arrangements for procuring antibiotics, the UK remains far from achieving its objectives of a lower burden of infection, optimal use of antimicrobials, and new treatments for everyday illnesses. Only one of the five domestic targets set in 2019 was met, and drug-resistant infections in humans have increased by 13% since 2018. The COVID-19 pandemic and demographic changes have complicated efforts to combat AMR, with patients arriving in hospitals with more pre-existing conditions and staying longer, leading to an increase in opportunistic infections.