Antimicrobial resistance trends show shifting patterns in China and UAE

Recent surveillance studies in China and the United Arab Emirates highlight evolving patterns of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among bacterial pathogens.

A 2025 analysis by the China Antimicrobial Surveillance Network (CHINET), which tracked over 516,000 clinical isolates across 80 hospitals, shows a shifting landscape. While resistance to Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has declined, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium has risen for five consecutive years. Carbapenem resistance remains a significant concern, particularly in Acinetobacter baumannii.

In the United Arab Emirates, a 13-year longitudinal study (2010–2022) involving 341 healthcare facilities analyzed 15,593 gastrointestinal infection cases. The study found that children aged 1–4 years faced the highest burden of infection. Common pathogens identified included non-typhoidal Salmonella, Shigella spp., and Escherichia coli. While carbapenem resistance remained relatively low at 2.6%, certain bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus were linked to higher risks of ICU admission.