The Government of United Kingdom reported nearly 400 antibiotic-resistant infections each week in 2024, according to national surveillance data published by the UK Health Security Agency, the government stated. Cases of bacteraemia caused by antibiotic resistance—a life-threatening infection where bacteria circulate in the blood—increased by 9.3% since 2023, rising from 18,740 cases in 2023 to 20,484 cases in 2024. The estimated number of deaths in people with a resistant infection also increased from 2,041 deaths in 2023 to 2,379 deaths in 2024, an increase of 338 deaths in one year.
The English Surveillance of Antibiotic Prescribing and Utilisation Report shows that most antibiotic-resistant bloodstream infections in the last six years (65%) were caused by E. coli, a common cause of urinary tract infections. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria of any kind are less likely to respond to treatment, causing serious complications including bacteraemia, sepsis, and hospitalization. People who get a bacterial infection that is resistant to one or more antibiotics are more likely to die within 30 days compared to those who have an antibiotic-susceptible infection.
Between 2019 and 2024, NHS primary care antibiotic use decreased slightly, while private dispensing in community pharmacies more than doubled. Overall, primary care antibiotic use rose by 10.7% between 2019 and 2024, reflecting a large rise in private prescriptions, with 22% of antibiotics in 2024 dispensed through the private sector.
“Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest health threats we face,” said Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Executive of UKHSA. “More people than ever are acquiring infections that cannot be effectively treated by antibiotics. This puts them at greater risk of serious illness and even death, with our poorest communities hit the hardest.”
Adults over the age of 45 continue to be most at risk, accounting for 90% of cases. Nearly half (46.2%) were detected in people over 74. Research suggests risk increases with age because individuals are more likely to develop multiple medical conditions as they get older and have more exposure to medical interventions. Data for 2024 shows a widening gap between people living in the most and least deprived areas—people living in the most deprived communities had a 47.2% higher rate of resistant bacteraemia compared to those in the least deprived areas.
Health Minister Zubir Ahmed said antimicrobial resistance is one of the most serious threats to public health, both in the UK and globally. “It is deeply concerning that people in our most deprived communities are disproportionately affected by antibiotic-resistant infections,” he said. “We are determined to address these inequalities as part of our 10 Year Health Plan to ensure everyone, no matter where they live, gets the care they need.” The report offers insights into the scale of the problem as the UK tackles antibiotic resistance through the challenging goals and targets set out in the UK National Action Plan 2024 to 2029.
