Antimicrobial resistance: information

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microbes such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites evolve over time and no longer respond to antimicrobial drugs. As a result, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines can become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or even impossible to treat, accelerating the risk of disease, severe illness and death.

Antimicrobial drugs - including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics - are used to prevent and treat infections. They also minimise the risk of infection associated with a range of modern healthcare procedures, such as caesarean sections, hip replacements or chemotherapy. Without effective antimicrobials, these procedures would carry an increased risk of infection and associated problems.

Global threat

The World Health Organisation has declared AMR to be one of the top ten threats to global health. Recent research estimated that in 2019, 4.95 million deaths were associated with bacterial AMR worldwide. AMR can spread via humans, animals, the environment and the food chain, and can move between countries. To control it effectively, we need a ‘One Health’ approach. This requires coordinated action on human health, animal health, minimising the spread of AMR through the environment, and food safety.  

In September 2024, the UN General Assembly made a declaration committing to immediate action to safeguard our ability to treat human, animal, and plant diseases, as well as to enhance food safety, food security and nutrition, foster economic development, equity and a healthy environment. It is essential that the Scottish Government acts together with international partners to achieve these goals. 

Tackling AMR 

The "Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance", adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2015, urged all members to develop national action plans on AMR. The Scottish Government works in partnership with the UK Government and the devolved administrations to develop and oversee actions to address AMR. The current National Action Plan, which was launched in May 2024, builds on previous work to contain and control AMR under the UK 20 year vision.  

The 2024-2029 UK National Action Plan focuses on building on progress to address AMR in all one health sectors across the following key themes:  

• reducing the need for, and unintentional exposure to, antimicrobials 
• optimising the use of antimicrobials 
• investing in innovation, supply, and access 
• being a good global partner 

We are committed to action to meet the goals of the National Action Plan, working closely with experts across human health, animal health, the environment, and food supply to ensure that antimicrobials remain effective for use in the future.  

What you can do

Everyone can help to protect these valuable drugs for the future. This can be done by:

• following human and animal healthcare professionals’ advice about the best use of antimicrobials
• taking any unused antimicrobial drugs to a pharmacy for safe disposal so as to protect the environment

Related information

The following organisations play key roles in this work:

• ARHAI Scotland (within NHS National Services Scotland)
• Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (within Healthcare Improvement Scotland)
• NHS Education for Scotland
• Scottish Environment Protection Agency
• Food Standards Scotland

Useful resources

• Antimicrobial resistance information on NHS Inform
• Scottish One Health Antimicrobial Use and Antimicrobial Resistance (SONAAR) in 2021
• Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group
• Scotland’s National Infection Prevention and Control Manual
• NHS Education for Scotland educational resources on Antibiotic Management
• Scotland’s Healthy Animals
• Scottish Environment Protection Agency sector plans
• One Health Breakthrough Partnership (ohbp.org)

• Confronting Antimicrobial Resistance (2024-2029): UK 5-year Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance