More than 400 cases of antibiotic-resistant bloodstream infections are being recorded every week in England, according to new surveillance figures highlighting the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance.
The latest report from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) estimates that 21,129 episodes of antibiotic-resistant bacteraemia were recorded in 2025. This represents a 16.8% increase compared with 18,086 cases in 2019, equivalent to an average of 406 reported episodes every week.
Bacteraemia occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream and can lead to serious illness, particularly when the bacteria are resistant to antibiotics used to treat infections. Antibiotic resistance develops when bacteria evolve in ways that make medicines less effective against them, potentially leaving healthcare professionals with fewer treatment options.
Although the number of resistant infections continued to increase in 2025, the latest figures suggest that the rate of growth has slowed. Cases rose by 3.2% between 2024 and 2025, compared with a 9.3% increase between 2023 and 2024.
The findings are contained in the English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance (ESPAUR) report for 2025 to 2026, published on 12 November 2026. The report examines antibiotic use, patterns of resistance and the groups and communities experiencing the greatest burden of infection.
Antibiotic resistance continues to rise despite lower NHS antibiotic use
One of the most significant findings is that antibiotic-resistant infections are increasing even as overall antibiotic consumption in the NHS continues to fall.
Between 2019 and 2025, antibiotic use across the NHS decreased by 10.7%, from 17.8 to 15.9 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day. Private antibiotic prescriptions dispensed through community pharmacies also declined by 20.8% between 2024 and 2025, from 0.61 to 0.48 on the same measurement scale.
The figures suggest that efforts to encourage responsible prescribing and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use are having an impact. However, lower consumption alone cannot reverse the spread of resistant bacteria, particularly when infections continue to circulate in communities and healthcare settings.
UKHSA says preventing infections in the first place, improving infection control and developing new treatment options must remain part of the wider response.
Dr Shona Arora, Interim Chief Medical Advisor at UKHSA, said hundreds of people face the consequences of antibiotic-resistant infections every week, with the risk of serious illness and death increasing when infections become harder to treat.
She welcomed the progress made in reducing antibiotic use but warned that significant challenges remain. She also highlighted the disproportionate impact on older people and communities experiencing greater deprivation.
Older people face the greatest burden of resistant infections
The latest surveillance data show that age remains an important factor in the distribution of antibiotic-resistant bloodstream infections.
Adults aged 45 and over accounted for 89.3% of resistant bacteraemia cases recorded in 2025, while almost half of all cases, representing 49.7%, were identified among people aged over 74.
Older people can be more vulnerable because they are more likely to live with multiple or complex health conditions, require hospital treatment and undergo medical procedures that increase their exposure to healthcare-associated infections.
The report also highlights the importance of protecting infants, who experienced a disproportionately high burden of resistant bacteraemia relative to their age group. This shows that antimicrobial resistance is not exclusively an issue affecting older generations, even though they account for the largest overall number of cases.
The figures reinforce the importance of infection prevention, appropriate clinical care and effective monitoring, particularly for patients who may already be more vulnerable because of their age or underlying health conditions.
Deprivation linked to higher rates of antibiotic-resistant infections
The report also identifies a significant difference in infection rates between England’s most and least deprived communities.
People living in the most deprived areas experienced a 44.2% higher rate of antibiotic-resistant bacteraemia than those living in the least deprived areas. The reported rates were 44.4 cases per 100,000 people in the most deprived group, compared with 30.8 per 100,000 in the least deprived group.
This gap highlights how health inequalities can influence people’s exposure to infection and their ability to access timely healthcare and support.
People living in more deprived communities may face a combination of challenges, including overcrowded housing, poorer living conditions, barriers to healthcare access and a higher prevalence of underlying health problems. These factors can contribute to wider differences in health outcomes, although the report does not establish a single cause for the gap in antibiotic resistance.
The figures also raise questions about whether infection prevention and public health interventions are reaching communities experiencing the greatest burden. UKHSA says it is continuing to work with partners to understand the differences and develop targeted responses.
Report identifies differences across ethnic groups
The ESPAUR report also highlights differences in the proportion of bloodstream infection episodes that were resistant across ethnic groups.
In 2025, 42.4% of relevant bacteraemia episodes among people recorded as Asian or Asian British were resistant to one or more specified antibiotics. The corresponding figure was 32.8% for people recorded as Black, African, Caribbean or Black British, compared with 20.7% among people recorded as White.
The report also provides population-based rates, recording 46.6 resistant cases per 100,000 people in the Asian or Asian British group, 45.2 per 100,000 in the Black, African, Caribbean or Black British group and 33.9 per 100,000 in the White group.
These figures require careful interpretation. They describe differences in reported infection and resistance patterns, but they do not mean that a person’s ethnicity itself causes antibiotic resistance. Wider factors, including health inequalities, underlying conditions, access to healthcare and patterns of exposure to infection, may contribute to differences in outcomes.
For public health authorities, understanding these variations is important when designing prevention strategies and ensuring that information and healthcare support reach different communities effectively.
Antibiotic-resistant infections place further pressure on NHS hospitals
Beyond the impact on individual patients, antibiotic-resistant infections also create significant demands on hospitals and healthcare resources.
Preliminary analysis included in the report estimates that approximately 53,400 hospital admissions associated with Gram-negative bloodstream infections cost NHS hospitals around £800 million between 2023 and 2024.
This figure relates to the estimated hospital costs associated with these infections. It should not be interpreted as the amount directly caused by antibiotic resistance alone, as further work is under way to establish the costs specifically attributable to infection and resistance.
Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, account for a large proportion of the resistant bloodstream infection burden. Together with Klebsiella oxytoca, these organisms contributed 85.5% of antibiotic-resistant bacteraemia episodes in 2025.
The report estimates that deaths among people with resistant Gram-negative bacteraemia remained broadly stable, at 2,318 in 2025 compared with 2,399 in 2024. These figures refer to deaths among people with the infections and should not be interpreted as deaths proven to have been caused solely by antibiotic resistance.
The findings demonstrate why resistant infections remain a serious concern for the NHS. When standard antibiotics are less effective, patients may require alternative treatments, additional monitoring or longer periods of hospital care.
UKHSA urges the public to use antibiotics responsibly
Health officials are reminding the public that antibiotics should only be taken when advised by an appropriate healthcare professional. Taking them unnecessarily can contribute to the development and spread of resistance, making future infections harder to treat.
Dr Arora has urged people not to save leftover antibiotics for another illness or share them with relatives and friends. Unused medicines should be returned to a pharmacy for safe disposal rather than kept at home or taken without professional advice.
People who are prescribed antibiotics should follow the instructions given by their healthcare professional and seek advice if they are unsure how to take their medication or what to do if they miss a dose. Antibiotics do not work against viral infections such as colds and flu, so they should not be expected to treat illnesses caused by viruses.
Vaccination also remains an important part of preventing infections. Keeping up to date with vaccines for which someone is eligible can reduce the risk of certain illnesses and help limit the need for treatment.
Public health officials say the response must go beyond prescribing practices. Better hygiene, infection prevention in hospitals and communities, surveillance and research into new treatments will all be important in tackling antimicrobial resistance.
What happens next in the UK’s fight against antibiotic resistance?
The latest ESPAUR findings will help inform progress towards the targets set out in the UK National Action Plan for antimicrobial resistance 2024 to 2029.
The plan aims to strengthen the country’s ability to prevent, detect and respond to resistant infections, while promoting responsible use of antibiotics across healthcare and other relevant sectors.
The latest figures show some encouraging progress in reducing antibiotic consumption, but the continuing rise in resistant bloodstream infections demonstrates that the problem has not been brought under control.
For the NHS, the challenge will be to maintain improvements in prescribing while strengthening infection prevention, reducing inequalities and supporting research into effective treatments. For the public, responsible use of medicines and access to appropriate vaccination remain important ways to help reduce the spread of infections.
Antibiotic resistance is a global health challenge, and the decisions made by healthcare systems, governments and individuals will influence how effectively future generations can treat infections that are currently manageable.
What the findings mean for Nigerians and African communities in the UK
The report deserves particular attention among Nigerian and wider African communities in England because it identifies differences in resistant infection rates across ethnic groups and highlights the greater burden experienced by people living in deprived areas. These findings should encourage better access to clear health information and prevention support, rather than create fear or lead people to assume that ethnicity determines an individual’s risk.
For Nigerian families caring for older relatives, the figures are a reminder of the importance of taking infections seriously, particularly when a family member has an existing health condition or has recently received hospital treatment. If an older relative develops symptoms or is unwell after treatment, family members should seek appropriate medical advice and make sure healthcare professionals are aware of relevant medical history and medicines. They should never use leftover antibiotics or medicines brought from Nigeria without checking with a qualified healthcare professional.
The findings also matter to Nigerian students, care workers and other diaspora members who support relatives across different generations. Antibiotic resistance does not stop at national borders, and inappropriate use of antibiotics in one country can contribute to a wider international problem. Families who travel between Britain and Nigeria should rely on qualified medical advice when dealing with infections, rather than sharing prescriptions or assuming that an antibiotic that worked for one person will work for another.
At Chijos News, we will continue to examine how NHS health findings affect Nigerian households in Britain, particularly where age, deprivation and unequal health outcomes intersect. The important message from this report is that antibiotic resistance is not simply a hospital issue. It affects families making everyday decisions about medicines, caring for older relatives and seeking treatment when someone becomes ill. Better information, responsible antibiotic use and fair access to healthcare are essential to protecting communities across the UK.
