Download Monitoring AMR in the EU
Antimicrobials, medicines crucial for the treatment of infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, are becoming less effective due to overuse and misuse, which has led to the rising tide of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Referred to as ‘the silent pandemic‘, AMR burdens healthcare systems financially and causes over 35,000 deaths annually in the European Union (EU) alone. Indeed, it is considered one of the EU’s top three health threats.
Efforts to combat AMR in the EU have been extensive and multifaceted, reflecting a commitment to public health that spans several decades. Since the recognition of AMR as a critical health issue, the EU has approved a series of strategic interventions, legislative reforms, and collaborative efforts. These include the Community Strategy against Antimicrobial Resistance published in 2001, decisive legislation banning antimicrobials as growth promoters in animal feed, and comprehensive AMR action plans addressing human and animal health, and environmental factors.
The aim of this booklet is to increase awareness about the importance of monitoring and addressing AMR in the EU, and to support more effective action against AMR. It provides an overview of EU targets for key pathogens, the current AMR status at country- and EU-level, and progress towards targets for managing and containing AMR.
In Part 1, we focus on the progress towards achieving the first target: Reducing overall antibiotic use in humans by 20% by 2030. In Part 2, the focus is on the second target: Ensuring at least 65% of antibiotics used in humans fall in the Access category. In Part 3 targets three to five will be covered: Reducing bloodstream infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) by 5% to 15%.
Download the full report (in PDF).
Find more of our work, research and recommendations on AMR by visiting the Antimicrobial Resistance Toolkit.