Drug-resistant bloodstream infections set to rise across Europe

A new study has warned that bloodstream infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria are expected to rise significantly across Europe over the next few decades, largely due to ageing populations. The research, published in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine, was led by Gwenan Knight of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), where bacteria no longer respond to commonly used antibiotics, is a growing global health crisis. Resistant infections are more difficult to treat and can lead to longer hospital stays, serious illness, and higher mortality. To tackle this problem effectively, health experts need accurate predictions of how the burden of resistant infections is likely to change in the coming years.

In the study, researchers analysed over 12 million blood tests collected between 2010 and 2019 from 29 European countries. These tests measured how susceptible bacteria were to various antibiotics. Using this data, the team calculated the incidence of bloodstream infections and projected how rates of drug-resistant infections might change up to 2050, taking into account population growth and ageing trends.

The findings revealed that bloodstream infection rates are expected to increase overall, although the burden will vary by country and by the type of bacteria. Men are projected to experience larger increases than women for most of the bacteria studied, while older adults, particularly those aged 74 and above, are likely to face the steepest rises. In contrast, rates among younger populations are expected to stabilise or decline.

Even with strong public health measures, the study suggested that achieving the United Nations' goal of a 10% reduction in resistant infections by 2030 would only be possible for about two-thirds of bacteria-antibiotic combinations. This highlights the challenges of curbing the rise of antimicrobial resistance across Europe.

Gwenan Knight commented, "Our study shows that the future burden of drug-resistant infections will not be uniform. There will be substantial differences between countries, age groups, and sexes. The steepest increases are projected in older adults, particularly those over 65. Simply preventing further rises in resistant bloodstream infections would already be a major public health achievement."

She added, "It was particularly striking to bring together different types of data to see the bigger picture. Age and sex are still rarely considered in antimicrobial resistance projections, yet they have a real impact on who is most affected. Combining these factors with demographic and infection trends shows just how challenging it will be to reverse the steady rise in bloodstream infections across Europe."

Coauthor Catrin Moore said, "This research is a major step forward in understanding how age and sex will influence the burden of drug-resistant infections in European countries. It will help us design targeted interventions for those most at risk, ultimately reducing deaths and serious illness caused by these infections in the future."

The study underlines the urgent need for public health strategies that focus on high-risk populations, particularly older adults and men, alongside broader efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance.