More than 400 people in England developed an antibiotic-resistant bloodstream infection every week last year, according to new surveillance data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The figures, released on Thursday, show that the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is growing even as the country reduces its overall use of antibiotics.
The UKHSA recorded 21,129 cases of antibiotic-resistant bacteraemia — a serious condition where bacteria enter the bloodstream — in 2025. That is a 16.8% increase from the 18,086 cases logged in 2019. The upward trend comes despite a 10.7% reduction in antibiotic consumption across the National Health Service (NHS) over the same period, from 17.8 to 15.9 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day.
“We can’t rely on reducing antibiotic use alone,” said Shona Arora, interim chief medical adviser at UKHSA, in a press release. “We need to continue our work with partners globally to prevent infections from occurring in the first place, alongside exploring new treatment options.”
Inequalities in the burden of resistant infections
The data also reveal stark disparities. People living in the most deprived areas of England had a 44.2% higher rate of antibiotic-resistant bacteraemia than those in the least deprived communities. Older adults are disproportionately affected: those over 45 accounted for 89.3% of infections, and nearly half of all cases were in people aged over 74.
These patterns echo broader trends across Europe, where the superbug crisis is deepening in many member states. The UK’s experience offers a cautionary tale for the rest of the continent: cutting antibiotic prescriptions alone is not enough to stop resistance.
The findings point to a wider challenge for policymakers. Tackling AMR requires not only responsible prescribing but also stronger infection prevention, higher vaccination coverage, and sustained investment in new treatments. The UK has set out its ambitions in its National Action Plan for antimicrobial resistance 2024 to 2029, which aims to limit the spread of resistant infections and reduce the need for antibiotics in the first place.
Diana Johnson, the UK’s minister for public health and patient safety, urged people to take antibiotics only when advised by a healthcare professional, to complete their prescribed course, and to avoid sharing or saving medication.
The rise in resistant bloodstream infections is particularly worrying because these infections are often difficult to treat and can lead to sepsis, organ failure, and death. The UKHSA has called for a coordinated approach that includes better hygiene in healthcare settings, targeted vaccination programmes for at-risk groups, and the development of new antimicrobial drugs.
For Europe as a whole, the UK’s data reinforce the need for cross-border cooperation. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has repeatedly warned that AMR causes an estimated 35,000 deaths annually in the EU and European Economic Area. The UK, though no longer an EU member, remains part of the continent’s public health landscape, and its experience with AMR is closely watched by other countries.
As the UK’s National Action Plan enters its second year, the new figures serve as a reminder that progress on AMR will require more than just prescribing restraint. The challenge is to prevent infections from occurring in the first place — a goal that demands investment in public health infrastructure, research, and innovation across the continent.
