Deaths Linked to Antibiotic-Resistant Superbugs Rose 17% in England in 2024: What is the veterinary community doing about it?

veterinaryvoicesuk
Nov 13
4 min read

Summary:

Key Statistics on Antibiotic Resistance and Use (UK, 2024)

17% increase in deaths linked to antibiotic-resistant superbugs in England (2024).
22% of antibiotics dispensed through private (human) prescriptions in 2024.
30% of all UK antibiotic use attributed to farm animals (2017 data).
96% reduction in injectable Highest Priority Critically Important Antibiotics (HPCIAs) on UK dairy farms (2017–2020).
55% reduction in total antibiotic sales for livestock since 2014 — now the lowest ever recorded level.
New Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR) introduced 17 May 2024 in England, Scotland, and Wales.
19% reduction in total antimicrobial usage (AMU) since 2020, according to the Kingshay Antimicrobial Focus Report.
Total Antimicrobial Usage (to March 2024): 12.7 mg/PCU, down from 13.7 mg/PCU in 2023, and below the 17.9 mg/PCU target.
Top 25% of herds account for 50% of total antibiotic use; they use five times more oral antimicrobials than the remaining 75%.
59% reduction in antibiotic sales for food-producing animals since 2014 (maintained at 25.7 mg/kg).
Critically important antibiotics for human health now represent <0.5% of total veterinary antibiotic sales.
Physical examination required before prescribing antibiotics, antifungals, antiparasitics, or antivirals for pets (rule introduced 1 September 2023).
Multi-drug resistance in animals now at its lowest level in a decade, according to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).

Introduction

The number of deaths in England linked to antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” rose by 17% in 2024, according to the latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The data highlight growing concern about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) — one of the most pressing global health threats.

The UKHSA report also revealed a sharp rise in private prescriptions for antibiotics, with 22% now being dispensed through the private sector. Analysts suggest this increase is partly connected to the Pharmacy First scheme, a government initiative under Rishi Sunak’s administration that allows pharmacists to prescribe antibiotics for common illnesses without a GP visit. The shift has raised questions about whether changing prescribing patterns could be contributing to antibiotic resistance.

Supermarket Policies and Imported Food Concerns

This marks the fourth assessment by the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics of the antibiotics policies of major UK supermarkets. The report found that no supermarket has policies strong enough to ensure suppliers fully comply with the new UK legislation that bans antibiotic use to compensate for poor animal welfare.

A major concern is that the new legislation does not apply to imported food. This means that meat, fish, eggs, and dairy imported into the UK can still be legally produced using routine antibiotics, including those for growth promotion. Despite this, few supermarkets extend their antibiotic policies to cover imported products, leaving a significant gap in regulation.

Antibiotic Stewardship in Agriculture

In 2017, farm animals accounted for around 30% of all antibiotics used in the UK. However, agricultural use remains among the lowest in Europe. Historically, the dairy, beef, and sheep sectors have faced challenges providing accurate antibiotic usage data, but progress is evident.

Dairy farms are currently on course to meet national targets for reducing antibiotic use. Between 2017 and 2020, the use of injectable Highest Priority Critically Important Antibiotics (HPCIAs) fell by 96%. Overall, antibiotic sales for livestock have fallen by 55% since 2014, reaching the lowest levels ever recorded.

On 17 May 2024, new Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR) came into effect across England, Scotland, and Wales. These new rules aim to reduce antibiotic overuse in farming and align partially with European Union legislation introduced in January 2022.

However, the UK government did not adopt all EU measures. Key differences include the UK’s refusal to implement a full ban on prophylactic (preventative) antibiotic use in groups of animals and the lack of mandatory antibiotic-use data collection.

The Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics has expressed concern that even the new rules may not be properly enforced — particularly the requirement that antibiotics should not be used to “compensate for poor hygiene, inadequate husbandry, or poor management.”

Positive Trends and Ongoing Challenges

The Kingshay Antimicrobial Focus Report noted a 19% reduction in total antimicrobial usage (AMU) since 2020. As of March 2024, total AMU was 12.7 mg per population-corrected unit (PCU) across 879 herds — well below the 2024 target of 17.9 mg/PCU set by the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) and down from 13.7 mg/PCU in 2023.

However, usage remains uneven. The top 25% of herds account for 50% of total antibiotic use, and these high-use herds use five times more oral antimicrobials than the remaining 75%.

The RUMA Agriculture Targets Task Force (TTF) Report praised the continued commitment across UK livestock sectors to responsible antibiotic use. National usage figures remain low, and long-term AMR surveillance by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) shows multi-drug resistance at its lowest level in a decade.

Most agricultural sectors have achieved or surpassed their targets, though some increases have been noted due to disease outbreaks, vaccine shortages, and environmental pressures.

The latest UK-Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance and Sales Surveillance (VARSS) Report, released alongside the TTF Report, confirms that antibiotic sales in food-producing animals remain at 25.7 mg/kg, maintaining a 59% reduction since 2014. Notably, critically important antibiotics for human health now account for less than 0.5% of total sales.

Veterinary Regulations and Companion Animal Care

In the companion animal sector, new rules on prescribing prescription-only veterinary medicines (POM-Vs) came into effect on 1 September 2023. These state that vets must perform a physical examination when prescribing antibiotics, antifungals, antiparasitics, or antivirals, except under exceptional circumstances.

This step aims to safeguard responsible antibiotic use in pets and ensure prescribing remains based on clinical assessment rather than convenience.

References

Atsoa Supermarket Report 2024
GOV.UK: The Prime Minister’s Primary Care Recovery Plan
Antimicrobial Resistance, Homeopathy and the Soil Association – The Skeptic
Antimicrobial Focus Report 2024
RUMA Agriculture Targets Task Force Report 2023
VARSS Report 2024
New Regulations on Farm Antibiotics for Great Britain and Comparison with the EU