Antimicrobial drugs are medicines that are active against a range of infections, such as those caused by bacteria (antibiotics), viruses (antivirals), fungi (antifungals) and parasites (including antimalarials). Increasing resistance to these drugs has been widely reported and the magnitude of problems this will cause has now been accepted. In her article, Val Edwards-Jones gives an overview of what antimicrobial resistance is, why it has arisen, why it is a problem and what can be done to counteract it. The article makes essential reading for clinicians involved in wound care to understand the issues involved, the challenges ahead and what the potential solutions might be.