Recommendation 45

There are strong indications that AMR is also a health inequalities issue. The most deprived quintile of the population being nearly 50% more likely to get a drug-resistant bloodstream infection than the least deprived quintile (38.1 people per 100,000 as opposed to 26.7 people per 100,000). Babies, the elderly, patients with compromised immune systems and certain ethnic groups are also more likely to be affected by AMR. However, routine data on the inequalities issue is very limited.114 Addressing this issue is a new area of focus in the 2024–29 NAP, including a commitment to collect better data. Dr Partridge spoke positively about the new focus on looking at the impact of deprivation.115 107 Q 92; C&AG’s Report, paras 3.18, 3.19 108 C&AG’s Report, paras 2.4, 3.2 109 Q 56 110 C&AG’s Report, para 3.21 111 Q 7 112 Q 36; C&AG’s Report, para 3.21 113 Qq 84, 87 114 Q 31; C&AG’s Report, paras 1.17, 3.21 115 Q 22 22