The prevalence and risk of mortality associated with antimicrobial resistance within nosocomial settings—a global systematic review and meta-analysis of over 20,000 patients

This study looked at how antimicrobial resistance (AMR) affects patients who get infections while in the hospital.

• How common is AMR? About 1 in 3 hospital infections (36.5%) were caused by resistant bacteria.

• Does AMR increase the risk of dying? Yes. Patients with resistant infections were about 60% more likely to die in the hospital compared to those with non-resistant infections.

• Highest risks: Deaths were especially high in patients with resistant bloodstream infections (bacteraemia).

• Where is the data from? The review covered 18 countries, but no studies were found from large regions like Africa, India, the Middle East, or Russia.

• Study quality: Most studies were good quality, but some risk of publication bias was found. Overall certainty of the evidence was rated “low.”

Conclusion: Resistant infections are common in hospitals worldwide and make patients much more likely to die. More research is needed—especially in underrepresented regions—to design better strategies that reduce the spread of AMR and its deadly consequences.