The article by Ülar Allas and Tanel Tenson underscores the growing threat of antibiotic resistance to the future of medicine, as presented in the latest World Health Organization (WHO) report. This report, published in October 2025, compiles data from 104 countries and accounts for more than 70% of the Earth's population. However, it also notes that nearly half of the world's countries failed to submit surveillance data, thus limiting the comprehensiveness of the findings. While there have been advancements in monitoring resistance, substantial knowledge gaps remain that can hinder effective responses to this global health challenge.

The piece elaborates on the necessity for precise surveillance data allowing healthcare providers to narrow down antibiotic options to minimize resistance. With more robust data, medical professionals could devise treatment plans that are both effective and sustainable. Additionally, the authors emphasize the need for a coordinated global surveillance system to persuade policymakers and investors to support actions against the spread of drug resistance. Without such a system, addressing this public health crisis will be increasingly difficult as antibiotic resistance continues to evolve and spread.

Ultimately, the article calls for urgent global action and better data collection to combat antibiotic resistance effectively. The need for international collaboration and commitment from both the healthcare community and policymakers is critical to ensure that antibiotics remain effective tools in treating infections in the future. Addressing these deficiencies is not only crucial for individual patient outcomes but also for the broader health of the global population as antibiotic resistance poses a systemic risk to healthcare systems worldwide.