Interactive resources for schools

Consequences of antimicrobial resistance

Many infections are becoming more difficult to treat due to antimicrobial resistance- this is a global health crisis!

In 2016, approximately 700,000 people died due to antimicrobial resistance. If nothing changes, by 2050 antimicrobial resistance will result in 10 million deaths per year. This represents one death every three seconds due to antimicrobial resistance by 2050.

There are specific microbes that are of particular concern. These microbes are extremely difficult to kill because they are resistant to multiple antimicrobial medicines (often because of multiple resistance mechanisms). Some examples of these microbes are given below.

Petri dish growing Candida auris

Candida auris Type of microorganism Fungus Type of infection caused Ear, bloodstream, brain and heart. Danger to humans 1 in 3 people with a Candida auris infection die. Global distribution Europe, North America, South America, Asia. Resistance status Resistant to fluconazole and amphotericin B. Varying resistance levels to other azole antifungals have been reported.

Staphylococcus aureus shown under scanning electron micrograph

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Type of microorganism Bacteria Type of infection caused Skin, wound, pneumonia and bloodstream. Danger to humans 20-50% of patients with a MRSA infection die. Global distribution Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Australia, Africa. Resistance status Resistant to methicillin. Cephalosporin resistance has also been reported.

Fluorescent stained Neisseria gonorrhoeae shown under fluorescent microscopy

Neisseria gonorrhoeae Type of microorganism Bacteria Type of infection caused Causes gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted disease. Gonorrhoea can cause permanent health problems such as infertility in both men and women. Danger to humans In rare cases this infection can spread to the bloodstream (which is life threatening). Global distribution North America, South America, Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe. Resistance status Resistant to cephalosporins, tetracycline and azithromycin.

Clostridium difficile shown under scanning electron microscopy

Clostridium difficile Type of microorganism Bacteria Type of infection caused Diarrhoea Danger to humans 6-30% of patients suffering from Clostridium difficile infections die. Global distribution Europe, Northern America, Australia, Asia. Resistance status Resistant to fluoroquinolone antibiotics.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis shown under scanning electron microscopy

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Type of microorganism Bacteria Type of infection caused Tuberculosis -, which is primarily a lung infection. Danger to humans In the extreme cases -, mortality rates of 50-60% have been reported. Responsible for 250,000 deaths each year. Global distribution Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Australia, Asia. Resistance status Resistant to isoniazid, rifampin and some fluoroquinolones. Resistance to amikacin, kanamycin and capreomycin has also been reported.

Possible further reading

Tuberculosis, WHO
A killer fungus is spreading through UK hospitals, Independent
Gonorrhoea, CDC

Click to download the one-page summary shown below.