Recent research highlights the alarming rise in child mortality due to drug-resistant bacteria, with Africa and South East Asia bearing the brunt of the crisis.
**Antimicrobial Resistance Blamed for Over Three Million Child Deaths in 2022**
**Antimicrobial Resistance Blamed for Over Three Million Child Deaths in 2022**
A shocking new study reveals that antibiotic-resistant infections claimed the lives of over three million children last year.
In a groundbreaking study, leading experts have revealed that more than three million children died from infections resistant to antibiotics in 2022. The focus on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which develops when infectious microbes evolve to elude standard antibiotic treatments, underscores a crucial public health crisis. The study, utilizing comprehensive data from sources like the World Health Organization (WHO) and World Bank, indicates that the situation has worsened significantly, especially among children in Africa and South East Asia.
The report, authored by Dr. Yanhong Jessika Hu of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Professor Herb Harwell of the Clinton Health Access Initiative, notes a staggering tenfold increase in AMR-related infections among children within just three years. The Covid-19 pandemic is believed to exacerbate this situation through heightened antibiotic usage, which is often unnecessary.
Antibiotics, prescribed for treating a range of bacterial infections, are now facing challenges due to resistance built from overprescription and misuse. While they are ineffective against viral infections, some bacterial strains have developed resistance due to the escalated use of antibiotics that should be reserved for severe cases. Between 2019 and 2021, the use of "watch antibiotics" surged by 160% in South East Asia and 126% in Africa. Similarly, "reserve antibiotics"—crucial last-resort medications—saw a rise of 45% and 125%, respectively.
The study’s authors caution that rising antibiotic resistance could leave healthcare providers with few treatment alternatives for severe infections. Professor Harwell emphasizes the global nature of AMR, explaining that it significantly impacts children and necessitates urgent attention.
The WHO has labeled AMR one of the pressing health threats of our time. Professor Harwell elaborates that no single solution exists for this multifaceted issue that permeates all aspects of healthcare, challenging the entire population. He advocates for improved immunization, sanitation, and hygiene as preventive measures against infections.
Dr. Lindsey Edwards, a microbiology senior lecturer at King’s College London, called the study's findings alarming and a wake-up call for global health leaders. Without immediate and decisive action, the rising tide of AMR threatens to retract years of advancements made in child health, particularly in the world’s most vulnerable areas.
The report, authored by Dr. Yanhong Jessika Hu of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Professor Herb Harwell of the Clinton Health Access Initiative, notes a staggering tenfold increase in AMR-related infections among children within just three years. The Covid-19 pandemic is believed to exacerbate this situation through heightened antibiotic usage, which is often unnecessary.
Antibiotics, prescribed for treating a range of bacterial infections, are now facing challenges due to resistance built from overprescription and misuse. While they are ineffective against viral infections, some bacterial strains have developed resistance due to the escalated use of antibiotics that should be reserved for severe cases. Between 2019 and 2021, the use of "watch antibiotics" surged by 160% in South East Asia and 126% in Africa. Similarly, "reserve antibiotics"—crucial last-resort medications—saw a rise of 45% and 125%, respectively.
The study’s authors caution that rising antibiotic resistance could leave healthcare providers with few treatment alternatives for severe infections. Professor Harwell emphasizes the global nature of AMR, explaining that it significantly impacts children and necessitates urgent attention.
The WHO has labeled AMR one of the pressing health threats of our time. Professor Harwell elaborates that no single solution exists for this multifaceted issue that permeates all aspects of healthcare, challenging the entire population. He advocates for improved immunization, sanitation, and hygiene as preventive measures against infections.
Dr. Lindsey Edwards, a microbiology senior lecturer at King’s College London, called the study's findings alarming and a wake-up call for global health leaders. Without immediate and decisive action, the rising tide of AMR threatens to retract years of advancements made in child health, particularly in the world’s most vulnerable areas.
