Understanding　the　occurrence　and　temporal　trends　of　antibiotic　resistance　genes　(ARGs)　within　bacteria　is　crucial　for　controlling　and　predicting　the　proliferation　of　antibiotic-resistant　bacteria.　However,　gaps　remain　in　understanding　the　long-term　trends　across　different　bacterial　species　and　in　assessing　related　health　risks.　We　collected　22,360　bacterial　complete　genome　sequences　with　collection　time　and　compiled　a　temporal　dataset　of　ARGs　in　culturable　bacteria.　Our　results　revealed　the　widespread　presence　of　ARGs　among　culturable　bacterial　species,　with　potential　pathogens　carrying　significantly　more　ARGs　than　non-pathogenic　species.　Temporal　trend　analysis　revealed　that　only　11.0　%　of　bacterial　species　experienced　an　increase　of　more　than　one　unit　in　ARG　quantity　and　diversity　over　one　century,　with　83.3　%　of　them　being　potential　pathogenic　species.　The　temporal　accumulation　of　ARGs　in　many　potential　pathogenic　species　is　influenced　by　the　abundance　of　mobile　genetic　elements,　with　several　species　also　exhibiting　temporal　accumulation　of　plasmid-borne　ARGs.　Notably,　Shigella　flexneri　and　Klebsiella　pneumoniae　exhibited　an　accumulation　of　high-risk　ARGs　associated　with　at　least　five　antibiotic　types　over　at　least　40　years.　Furthermore,　the　distribution　of　ARG-carrying　strains　before　the　use　of　antibiotics　revealed　a　wide　range　of　bacterial　species　and　antibiotic　types　for　intrinsic　resistance,　including　some　synthetic　antibiotics.　This　work　reveals　the　significant　role　of　potential　pathogens　in　the　expansion　of　antibiotic　resistance　and　highlights　the　importance　of　strengthening　vigilance　against　the　emergence　of　novel　multidrug-resistant　pathogens.　©　2025　The　Author(s)