• Over 70% of key bacteria resist standard treatments in Africa
• WHO urges urgent action to prevent global health crisis

Antibiotic resistance now affects one in five infections across Africa, surpassing the global average, where one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections are resistant to standard treatments, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2025 Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance report.

The report identifies antibiotic resistance as a rapidly escalating global threat, especially in Africa. Gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae pose the greatest threat. More than 70% of African strains of these bacteria are now resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, a powerful class of antibiotics considered the standard treatment for bloodstream infections.

This trend is severely limiting treatment options, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where last-resort antibiotics are often unavailable. The trend is already a major concern among African health experts.

The U.N. health agency is urging stronger laboratory capacity, responsible antibiotic use, and closer collaboration across sectors to avert a global health crisis.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi