31 May 2025

The systematic analysis of the global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) 1990–2021 by the GBD 2021 Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators¹ will help to improve understanding of global trends of AMR, but the authors’ interpretations of the findings leave cause for concern. The fact that AMR mortality is now expected to increase steeply suggests that we have reached a tipping point. Continued reliance on mitigation through prevention and stewardship is key, but could produce diminishing returns.