Confronting China's Antimicrobial Resistance Crisis

Currently, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the World Health Organization's (WHO) top ten public health threats to people worldwide. AMR can spread between people, animals, and the environment, and can cause deadly infections.

In the People's Republic of China, with over 1.4 billion residents, the AMR crisis has recently escalated into a critical public health threat. The rapid spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria exemplifies this increasing threat. 

Consequently, genomic surveillance of these pathogens and the development of effective countermeasures are urgently needed.

Published in early September 2025 by China CDC Weekly, this new study provides insights to guide evidence-based antimicrobial stewardship programs.

These researchers highlight three critical dimensions of the AMR challenge in China, which include the recent emergence of resistant bacteria, genomic surveillance efforts, and progress in the development of novel antimicrobial agents.

By synthesizing recent research on the evolutionary dynamics of drug-resistant pathogens in China and outlining innovative antimicrobial strategies, this study provides insights to guide evidence-based antimicrobial stewardship programs.

The complete, unedited study is found at this link.

In the United States, approximately 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur annually. 

The estimated national cost to treat infections caused by six antimicrobial-resistant germs frequently found in healthcare can be substantial, exceeding $4.6 billion annually, according to a collaborative U.S. CDC study.

The CDC's AR Solutions Initiative invests in protecting & saving lives from drug-resistant infections.

The WHO's Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, adopted in 2015, is scheduled for revision by 2026.