Antibiotic-resistant infections are claiming more lives in England, raising alarm bells about the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance. Official figures released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reveal a stark 17% surge in deaths linked to superbugs in 2024. These drug-resistant organisms pose a significant challenge because common antibiotics can no longer effectively combat them.
This troubling trend coincides with a notable increase in private prescriptions for antibiotics, leaping by 22% last year. The UKHSA attributes this partly to the Pharmacy First scheme, a government initiative allowing patients to obtain antibiotics directly from pharmacies for certain common ailments without consulting a GP. This shift in prescribing patterns sparks concerns about whether wider access to antibiotics outside traditional clinical settings might inadvertently be fueling the rise of resistance.
“Antibiotic resistance is one of the most perilous threats to global health,” warns Prof Susan Hopkins, UKHSA’s chief executive. She emphasizes that increasingly common infections resistant to standard antibiotics put patients at heightened risk for serious illness and even death, disproportionately impacting disadvantaged communities.
The natural selection process drives the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Antibiotics kill off susceptible bacteria, but any survivors with mutations granting resistance proliferate and spread. Limiting antibiotic use to situations where it’s truly necessary is crucial in mitigating this global threat. Estimates predict that by 2050, antimicrobial resistance could claim as many as 10 million lives annually worldwide.
UKHSA surveillance data paints a grim picture: nearly 400 new cases of antibiotic-resistant infections emerged each week on average during 2024. Bacteraemia, a life-threatening blood infection caused by resistant bacteria, climbed from 18,740 cases in 2023 to 20,484 last year—a concerning 9.3% increase. Equally alarming is the estimated jump in deaths associated with these resistant infections, rising from 2,041 in 2023 to 2,379 in 2024 – a 17% surge.
While antibiotic prescriptions within NHS primary care decreased between 2019 and 2024, private dispensing through community pharmacies more than doubled. Overall primary care antibiotic use across both the NHS and private sectors rose by 10.7% over this five-year period.
“Although we’ve seen a decline in antibiotic use within England’s NHS, further and swifter action is essential,” emphasizes Hopkins. She urges the public to only take antibiotics when prescribed by a healthcare professional, emphasizing against saving unused medication or sharing it with others. Leftover antibiotics should be returned to pharmacies for proper disposal.
The UKHSA data sheds light on the Pharmacy First scheme, designed to alleviate pressure on GPs by enabling them to focus on more complex health issues. This initiative allows patients to obtain treatment for seven common conditions—including earaches, sinusitis, sore throats, and insect bite infections—directly from participating pharmacies. However, these pharmacies supplied antibiotics in 45% to 85% of consultations, depending on the specific ailment being treated, raising questions about the potential impact on antibiotic resistance.
“While the Pharmacy First service has demonstrably increased antibiotic supply, it’s important to interpret this finding cautiously and consider it within the broader context of evolving healthcare access patterns,” concludes the UKHSA report, noting that the service adhered to established National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for responsible prescribing.
The rise in deaths from superbug infections coupled with escalating private antibiotic prescriptions underscores a critical juncture in confronting antimicrobial resistance. Urgent measures are needed to ensure responsible use of these essential drugs and safeguard their effectiveness for future generations.
