Health officials in England have issued a stark warning as fatalities from a dangerous antibiotic-resistant superbug have surged dramatically over the past year.
Sharp Rise in Cases and Deaths
According to new national surveillance data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the total number of antibiotic-resistant infections reported in 2024 averaged nearly 400 new cases every week.
The situation has deteriorated significantly since 2023. Cases of bacteraemia, a life-threatening bloodstream infection caused by resistant bacteria, jumped by 9.3%, rising from 18,740 in 2023 to 20,484 in 2024.
Tragically, the estimated death toll among those infected has also climbed. In 2024, 2,379 deaths were recorded in individuals with a resistant infection, a worrying increase of 338 deaths from the 2,041 deaths reported in 2023.
E. coli: The Primary Culprit and Its Symptoms
The latest English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance (ESPAUR) report pinpoints E. coli as the main cause of this crisis. This bacterium was responsible for 65% of all antibiotic-resistant bloodstream infections over the last six years and is a common cause of urinary tract infections.
While many E. coli strains are harmless, some can cause serious illness. Symptoms of an E. coli infection in the gastrointestinal tract include:
- Watery diarrhoea, which can sometimes be bloody.
- Stomach pains and cramps.
- Loss of appetite.
- Low fever.
If the infection is in the urinary tract, symptoms can be different:
- Abdominal or pelvic pain.
- A painful or burning sensation when urinating.
- An urgent and frequent need to urinate.
- Cloudy, foul-smelling urine.
In severe cases, particularly with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), the infection can lead to kidney damage.
A Growing Threat and the Fight Back
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are harder to treat, often leading to severe complications like bacteraemia, sepsis, and hospitalisation. Patients with a resistant infection face a higher risk of dying within 30 days compared to those with an infection that responds to antibiotics.
While antibiotic use in NHS primary care saw a slight decrease from 2019 to 2024, there was a more than 100% increase in private antibiotic prescriptions from community pharmacies. Overall, this led to a 10.7% rise in total primary care antibiotic use during that period, with 22% of all antibiotics in 2024 being dispensed privately.
Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Executive of UKHSA, stated: "Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest health threats we face. 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."
She urged the public to only take antibiotics when prescribed by a professional, not to share or save them, and to return unused medication to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
The data shows that while anyone can be infected, those aged over 45 are most vulnerable, accounting for 90% of cases. Almost half of all cases (46.2%) were in people aged 74 and above.
Health Minister Zubir Ahmed echoed these concerns, calling antimicrobial resistance "one of the most serious threats to public health" and a key government priority. He emphasised the need to address health inequalities, as the most deprived communities are disproportionately affected.