In 2024, resistance of certain pathogenic bacteria in the Netherlands increased. Especially bacteria causing urinary tract infections and skin infections were more often resistant to medications than in previous years. This is stated in the report NethMap Consumption of antimicrobial agents and antimicrobial resistance among medically important bacteria in the Netherlands (Consumption of antimicrobial agents and antimicrobial resistance among medically important bacteria in the Netherlands) One Health 2025. The report also shows that hospitals have increasingly used last-resort antibiotics in recent years. Attention to antimicrobial resistance and proper adherence to antibiotic use guidelines remains important.
In the Netherlands, antibiotic resistance is lower than in other European countries, but for some unwanted bacteria, the proportion that is resistant is increasing. Especially for bacteria that cause (severe) urinary tract infections, the percentage resistant to first-choice antibiotics is rising. This trend is seen throughout Europe. In the Netherlands, the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium is also more often resistant to first-choice antibiotics in 2024 than in previous years. This bacterium causes, among other things, skin infections.
Antibiotic use varies by healthcare institution
General practitioners offices, hospitals, and nursing homes prescribed antibiotics about as often in 2024 as in 2023. However, usage in one institution can sometimes be very different from another institution providing the same type of care. In hospitals, the use of last-resort antibiotics has increased in recent years. These antibiotics are only used when other antibiotics do not work.
Antibiotic use and resistance in animals
Antibiotic use in Dutch livestock farming is stable after a significant decline since 2009. Antibiotic resistance in animals is also stable. Farm animals only rarely receive antibiotics essential for humans. As a result, resistance to these antibiotics in animals is rare.
Measures
Incorrect or unnecessary use of antibiotics can cause bacteria to become resistant. Infections caused by resistant bacteria can be harder to treat with antibiotics and can therefore be more severe. Proper use of antibiotics in humans and animals remains important. Dutch policy also focuses heavily on preventing the spread of resistant bacteria. Thanks to infection prevention measures such as consistent hand washing during patient care and screening patients at high risk of carrying resistant bacteria, resistance is less of a problem in the Netherlands than in many other countries.
About the report
The report NethMap Consumption of antimicrobial agents and antimicrobial resistance among medically important bacteria in the Netherlands (Consumption of antimicrobial agents and antimicrobial resistance among medically important bacteria in the Netherlands) One Health 2025 contains data on antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance in the Netherlands in 2024, for humans and animals. Previously, the annual report was called NethMap/MARAN Monitoring of antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic usage in animals in the Netherlands (Monitoring of antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic usage in animals in the Netherlands). The new name makes the one health approach of humans, animals, and environment even clearer. For the full report, visit NethMap One Health 2025.
