Insights and imperatives on antimicrobial resistance in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become entrenched across the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR)- undermining our health, our development and our security. Despite progress in developing AMR national action plans (NAP), strengthening infection prevention and control (IPC), and reporting AMR and consumption data to WHO's surveillance system, the AMR burden continues to increase. In 2021 alone, bacterial AMR was directly responsible for nearly 100 000 sepsis-related deaths in the Region -more than 1 in 6 of all sepsis deaths. These stark figures show that AMR is a systemic crisis requiring an urgent, coordinated response.