Antibiotic resistance

June 8, 2026 10:08 PM

Antibiotic resistance genes found across world oceans, Italian study shows

Genes linked to antibiotic resistance are present across multiple ocean basins, including remote waters, according to findings released on Monday from an Italian-led research project that analysed seawater samples worldwide. The SeA Care project found antibiotic-resistance genes in the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Arctic and other regions, with higher concentrations detected near busy shipping routes and densely populated coastal areas. The results suggest oceans act as a global reservoir for poll...

October 13, 2025 11:06 PM

WHO warns of surging levels of antibiotic resistance

One in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections are resistant to antibiotic treatments, the World Health Organization said on Monday, calling for the medicines to be used more responsibly. Resistance to antibiotics rose in around 40% of samples monitored, the U.N. health agency said in a report based on data from more than 100 countries between 2016-2023. “Antimicrobial resistance is outpacing advances in modern medicine, threatening the health of families worldwide,” WHO Director-Gen...

April 4, 2025 4:30 PM

Study warns against surge in antibiotic prescriptions for young adults

Younger people are increasingly being prescribed antibiotics without a proper assessment of complication risks, warns a new study. This practice could potentially lead to antibiotic resistance. The study, led by epidemiologists at the University of Manchester, UK, found that doctors are prescribing antibiotics to tens of thousands of patients with infections, often without considering the prognosis or the risk of the infection worsening. An analysis of 15.7 million patient records reve...