Antibiotic resistance makes reliable diagnosis and prevention more important

Antibiotics become less useful when bacteria can survive medicines intended to stop them. The problem concerns resistant microorganisms, rather than a person's body becoming accustomed to a drug, and it complicates the treatment of infections.

WHO's 2025 surveillance reporting described widespread resistance to common antibiotics and highlighted the importance of better information. Laboratory testing and surveillance help reveal which treatments may remain effective in particular settings. Gaps in testing can leave clinicians and health authorities with an incomplete picture.

Prevention is part of the response. Reducing infections through appropriate hygiene, vaccination and safer care can reduce the need for treatment in the first place. Prescribing decisions also matter because antibiotics do not treat viral illnesses, and unnecessary use adds pressure without providing the intended benefit.

Patients should use antibiotics only as prescribed and discuss questions or adverse effects with a qualified professional rather than sharing leftovers or changing treatment independently. At the system level, access to appropriate medicines and diagnostics must accompany efforts to limit misuse. Preserving antibiotic effectiveness depends on both responsible use and the ability to deliver the right care when an infection genuinely requires it.