Global trend of antimicrobial resistance in common bacterial pathogens in response to antibiotic consumption

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health threat worldwide and antibiotic consumption is being increasingly recognized as the main selective pressure driving this resistance. However, global trend in antibiotic resistance in response to antibiotic consumption is not fully understood. In this study, we collected national resistance data on specific resistant pathogens considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as priority and antibiotic consumption data for 61 countries to assess the global trends in antibiotic resistance of those common bacterial pathogens and their association with antibiotic consumption. The low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) represented the largest hotspots of resistance, which presented relatively higher resistance rates in common bacterial pathogens but lower antibiotic consumption rates compared to high-income countries (HICs). Specifically, we developed the Normalized Antibiotic Resistance/Consumption Index (NARCI) and produced global maps of NARCI to roughly assess the appropriateness of antibiotic consumption across countries and to indicate the potentially inappropriate antibiotic consumption in LMICs compared with HICs. Additionally, we linked antibiotic consumption rates and resistance rates of target pathogens, in conjunction with NARCI and the correlation analysis between antibiotic use and resistance, to inform strategies to alleviate the threat of antibiotic resistance worldwide.