By Anna Thomas, Chief Scientific Officer, OM Pharma
As we look toward World AMR Awareness Week, the conversation around antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has never been more urgent. Across Europe, 35,000 people die each year because infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines (1). Without decisive action, this number is set to hit 90,000 by 2050 (2).
AMR is not only a health crisis but also an economic one, costing EU countries an estimated €12 billion each year in healthcare and productivity losses (3). Policymakers at global, European and national levels have made important progress — from the EU Council Recommendation on AMR (2023) to the UN Political Declaration on AMR (2024). But one critical element still lacks the attention it deserves: infection prevention.
Why prevention matters in the fight against AMR
Despite advances in AMR awareness, antibiotics continue to be prescribed when they are unnecessary. An estimated 83% of adults with viral respiratory tract infections (RTIs) such as the flu still receive antibiotics, even though it is known that these drugs have no effect on viruses. (4) Antibiotics are also frequently prescribed for other infections which are very common worldwide. For example, they are prescribed in roughly 85% of cases of urinary tract infections (UTIs) (5) with more than half of patients forced to switch treatment due to bacterial resistance (6). Overprescription and misuse of antibiotics accelerates the cycle of resistance, putting individuals and wider society at risk.
Reducing the number of infections is a crucial component of breaking this cycle. Each recurrence is not just another round of negative burden – it perpetuates the overuse of antibiotics, fuels bacterial resistance, and places strain on families, caregivers and health systems. By preventing more infections, we can reduce this burden and in turn help tackle AMR. It would also make economic sense: as illustrated in a recent WHO report, investment in hygiene measures for infection prevention and control leads to a high return on investment of 5 to 25 times the initial investment (7).
A holistic approach to infection prevention
Prevention is often narrowly defined and focused on vaccination, hygiene and sanitation measures. These are essential foundations, yet they represent only part of the solution.
A holistic approach is needed to expand the prevention toolbox beyond these routine measures. For example, prophylactic vaccines, passive immunisation, decolonization approaches and immunomodulators that strengthen the immune system can help reduce the number of infections and lower antibiotic use across health systems, which is crucial to address antibiotic resistance.
At the same time, education and training are key. Healthcare professionals need ongoing support to ensure responsible prescribing, while public awareness campaigns can help citizens understand when antibiotics are unnecessary.
This holistic approach should be prioritised in future strategies and guidelines, including the new EU guidelines on infection prevention and control currently under development.
Putting prevention at the heart of Europe’s approach to AMR
Prevention is not a side strategy — it is the foundation of an effective AMR response. As policymakers prepare for World AMR Awareness Week, Europe must take the opportunity to lead globally by placing prevention at the heart of its approach to AMR. This includes broadening understanding of infection prevention and control, and integrating alternative preventative strategies, such as therapies which prime the immune system, into relevant policies.
[1] European Centre for Disease Control (2022), Assessing the health burden of infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the EU/EEA, 2016-2020.
[2] European Commission (2024). UNGA Political Declaration: A global commitment to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
[3] OECD (2025), Antimicrobial Resistance.
[4] Van Houten et al. (2019), Antibiotic Misuse in Respiratory Tract Infections in Children and Adults – A Prospective, Multicentre Study (Tailored Treatment)
[5] Pujades et al. (2019), Lower Urinary Tract Infections: Management, Outcomes and Risk Factors for Antibiotic Re-prescription in Primary Care.
[6] Olson et al. (2009), Antibiotic Resistance in Urinary Isolates of Escherichia coli from College Women with Urinary Tract Infections
[7] WHO (2025) Fact sheet : The case for investment and action in infection prevention and control