Weaker health systems linked to higher antibiotic resistance, new WHO report finds

Antibiotic resistance is quietly spreading worldwide. According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) latest Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) report 2025, one in six common bacterial infections worldwide could no longer be treated effectively with antibiotics in 2023, especially in areas with weaker health systems.

Targeted high-throughput sequencing technology can provide crucial support for infection prevention and guide precision treatment—helping to reduce antibiotic resistance that often arises from limited diagnostic capacity.

Resistance Hits Hardest

Antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacteria to outsmart the drugs meant to kill them. When antibiotics are misused, such as being prescribed unnecessarily or used to target the wrong bacteria, it can lead to antibiotic abuse and, ultimately, the development of antibiotic resistance.

The new WHO report analyzed data from more than 23 million laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections across 104 countries, revealing major regional differences.

Southeast Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean recorded the highest rates of drug resistance, affecting about three in ten infections. The African region followed with roughly one in five, while Europe and the Western Pacific reported lower rates, which is about one in ten.

Urinary tract infections were the most likely to resist treatment, followed by bloodstream infections, gastrointestinal infections, and gonorrhea. In short, bacteria are adapting faster than we are.

Dangerous Bacteria on the Rise

Among the most concerning are Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), which can cause severe bloodstream infections that may lead to sepsis, organ failure, or even death.

Globally, more than 40% of E. coli and over half of K. pneumoniae infections are now resistant to commonly used third-generation cephalosporin antibiotics. In Africa, these figures soar above 70%.

Some bacteria are becoming especially difficult to treat. Nearly half of Acinetobacter baumannii infections no longer respond to carbapenems—the strongest antibiotics used when all else fails. Another common hospital germ, Staphylococcus aureus, shows resistance in about a quarter of cases worldwide, and in some Middle Eastern countries, it affects nearly half of all infections.

Even sexually transmitted infections are getting harder to cure. Gonorrhea, once easily treated, is now resistant to three out of four commonly used medicines. These trends suggest that we're rapidly losing our most reliable treatments, and that infections once considered mild could soon become life-threatening again.

Weak Systems, High Resistance

The WHO report also shows that countries with weaker healthcare systems tend to have higher resistance levels. When diagnostic labs or infection surveillance are limited, doctors often treat patients based on symptoms alone. This can lead to overuse of antibiotics and, over time, allow bacteria to grow stronger.

Since 2016, participation in the WHO's global surveillance program (GLASS) has expanded from 25 to 104 countries. Yet fewer than half have the resources to track antibiotic resistance nationwide. Without reliable data, it's nearly impossible to know where resistance is spreading or how to stop it.

Responsible antibiotic use remains a challenge worldwide. In 2022, only half of the antibiotics used were the safer, first-choice options that doctors are encouraged to prescribe. The UN aims to raise that share to 70% by 2030. But stronger antibiotics—meant for special or emergency cases—still make up nearly half of all use worldwide.

Advanced Genomics Strengthens Diagnostics

"In clinical practice, diagnostic uncertainty often leads to the initial use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. While cultures are incubating—a process that can take days—clinicians must make critical decisions to protect patients whose conditions can deteriorate rapidly," said Dr. Deng Ziqing from BGI Genomics.

"tNGS closes this diagnostic gap by identifying pathogens within hours, enabling a swift transition from broad-spectrum empiric therapy to targeted treatment," he added.

Advanced sequencing tools can now identify the exact bacteria behind an infection, allowing doctors to choose the most effective treatment from the start.

A prime example is the BGI Genomics' PTseq™ plus for infectious pathogens detection. Built on targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) technology, it covers 859 targets, including 729 pathogens and 130 drug resistance/virulence genes, carefully selected for different infection syndromes such as respiratory, bloodstream, and central nervous system infections. The test can efficiently identify bacteria, fungi, viruses, and relevant resistance and virulence genes, covering over 95% of clinical infection scenarios.

The PTseq™ plus localized solution encompasses the entire workflow from sample preprocessing and nucleic acid extraction to library construction, hybrid capture, sequencing, data analysis, and interpretation. The entire process can be completed on-site in as little as 15 hours. By expanding diagnostic capabilities beyond traditional culture-based methods, this approach significantly improves pathogen detection rates. Supporting precision infectious disease management with precision pathogen targeting helps avoid unnecessary antibiotic use, hence reducing the risk of resistance development.

Antimicrobial resistance affects everything from childbirth to cancer treatment to routine surgery. Without effective antibiotics, even minor infections could once again become deadly. Progress depends not only on science but also on stronger surveillance systems, resilient health infrastructure, and responsible antibiotic use by both doctors and patients. Breakthroughs in high-throughput sequencing-based precision detection technology offer hope for overcoming the challenge of antibiotic resistance. The next decade will determine whether humanity can stay one step ahead of microbes—or fall behind in the race for survival.

About BGI Gneomics PTseq™ plus

BGI Genomics Pan-infection Pathogen Targeted Sequencing (PTseq™ plus) uses targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) with specialized hybridization probes to enrich and sequence pathogenic genes. Leveraging a high-quality clinical database, patented technologies, and advanced bioinformatics, it identifies pathogens, resistance markers, and virulence genes with speed and accuracy. PTseq™ Plus provides clinicians with actionable insights for precise infection diagnosis and treatment.

About BGI Genomics

BGI Genomics, headquartered in Shenzhen, China, is the world's leading integrated solutions provider of precision medicine. Our services cover more than 100 countries and regions, involving more than 2,300 medical institutions. In July 2017, as a subsidiary of BGI Group, BGI Genomics (300676.SZ) was officially listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.