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Antimicrobial resistance

    Overview

    Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi.

    AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result, the medicines become ineffective and infections persist in the body, increasing the risk of spread to others.

    Antimicrobials - including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics - are medicines used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals and plants. Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”.

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    Guidance on wastewater and solid waste management for manufacturing of antibiotics

    Control of pollution from antibiotic manufacturing is a key part of safeguarding the longevity of antibiotics for all. Pollution contributes to antibiotic...

    Antibacterial pipeline trends and recommendations to enhance research and development: policy brief

    The World Health Organization (WHO) policy brief, "Antibacterial pipeline trends and recommendations to enhance research and development" provides recommendations...

    Implementing the global action plan on antimicrobial resistance: first quadripartite biennial report

    The first quadripartite biennial report summarizes progress in the implementation of multisectoral national action plans, actions by the quadripartite...

    Antimicrobial Resistance Diagnostic Initiative

    WHO Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Diagnostic Initiative builds on the resolution WHA76.5 (2023) “strengthening diagnostic capacity” adopted...

    Our work

    Documents

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    WAAW 2024 campaign guide

    Get involved in WAAW 2024: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization...

    Country profiles

    Country profiles

    Country profiles present selected data, statistics and information to provide national health profiles at given points in time.
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