WHO
Laboratory technician labelling petri dishes for microbiological investigations

Strengthening global surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and use

The Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) is a global initiative launched in 2015 to support a standardized approach to the collection, analysis, interpretation, and sharing of national data on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobial use (AMU). GLASS supports countries in building national surveillance systems that can monitor trends and generate reliable, comparable data to guide burden estimation and inform public health decisions.

GLASS is supported by guidance and tools aimed at improving the quality, completeness, and representativeness of AMR surveillance data. The Emerging Antimicrobial Resistance Reporting (GLASS-EAR) component facilitates early detection, risk assessment, reporting, and communication of emerging AMR threats.

In countries where robust routine surveillance of AMR is not yet optimal, WHO recommends the implementation of nationally representative surveys to accurately measure the prevalence, morbidity, mortality and the economic burden of AMR in countries.

To better understand antimicrobial use, point prevalence surveys collect data on antibiotic prescribing practices and other key information related to the treatment and management of infectious diseases in hospitalized patients.

Countries may join GLASS with government approval. Participation provides access to global data, technical tools, and capacity-building support to strengthen national AMR and AMU surveillance systems and laboratories. Enrollment is component-based (AMR or AMU), and GLASS enrollment instructions are available here.

GLASS is coordinated by the Surveillance, Evidence and Laboratory Strengthening unit (AMR surveillance) and Control and Response Strategies unit (AMU surveillance), in collaboration with WHO Regional Offices and supported by WHO Collaborating Centres and AMR regional networks.

Impact

141

Countries and areas

Out of all enrolled, 104 countries, territories & areas shared AMR data for the 2022–2023 period.

GLASS website

98

Countries & areas

78 countries, territories & areas reported AMU data (2021–2024); 73 met WHO standards.

GLASS dashboard

Our work

GLASS IT platform

GLASS IT Platform

The GLASS IT Platform is a web-based platform for global data sharing on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It serves as a common environment for data submission for several technical modules (GLASS-AMR, GLASS-AMC, GLASS-FUNGI, EGASP) and supports the implementation of One Health AMR surveillance at national level