Untreatable superbugs have affected 36 patients in England, new figures obtained by the Telegraph show. There were 36 cases of pan - resistant - infections , or bacteria resistant to all commonly used antibiotics , recorded by Public Health England between April 2013 and February 2018 , according to figures obtained by The Telegraph . The numbers have been disclosed as Lord O’Neill , the former commercial secretary to the Treasury who led a government - commissioned review of infections , accused both Prime Minister Theresa May and pharmaceutical companies of failing to take action on the issue . According to official figures , approximately 5,000 people die each year in the UK due to antimicrobial resistance . However , some analysts argue the true figure is double this number .
There were 36 cases of pan - resistant - infections , or bacteria resistant to all commonly used antibiotics , recorded by Public Health England between April 2013 and February 2018 , according to figures obtained by The Telegraph . The numbers have been disclosed as Lord O’Neill , the former commercial secretary to the Treasury who led a government - commissioned review of infections , accused both Prime Minister Theresa May and pharmaceutical companies of failing to take action on the issue . According to official figures , approximately 5,000 people die each year in the UK due to antimicrobial resistance . However , some analysts argue the true figure is double this number .