Synopsis
A recent study revealed that over three million children died globally from AMR-related infections in 2022, emphasizing the urgent need for effective strategies to combat this critical issue, particularly in high-burden regions.Key Takeaways
- Over 3 million child fatalities from AMR in 2022.
- 752,000 children in Southeast Asia affected.
- 659,000 children in Africa impacted.
- Increased use of Watch and Reserve antibiotics noted.
- Urgent global action required to combat AMR.
New Delhi, April 13 (NationPress) A staggering three million children around the globe succumbed to antimicrobial resistance (AMR)-related infections in 2022, according to a groundbreaking study unveiled today at the ‘ESCMID Global 2025’ conference in Vienna, Austria. The findings highlight the pressing necessity for both regional and global frameworks to manage pediatric AMR, especially in regions with high incidence rates like South-East Asia and Africa.
AMR represents a significant danger to children, who are particularly susceptible to infections. The availability of new antibiotic formulations for children is often severely restricted due to delays in product development.
The research indicates that in 2022, over 752,000 children in Southeast Asia and 659,000 children in Africa were lost to AMR-related complications.
These fatalities were frequently associated with the administration of Watch antibiotics (medications with a high risk of resistance) and Reserve antibiotics (the last line of defense against severe, multidrug-resistant infections).
Researchers emphasize that Watch and Reserve antibiotics are not meant for first-line treatment and should be reserved for cases where they are truly needed to maintain their efficacy and mitigate resistance development.
On the other hand, Access antibiotics are more readily available and typically used to manage common infections due to their lower risk of fostering resistance.
From 2019 to 2021, the usage of Watch antibiotics surged by 160 percent in Southeast Asia and 126 percent in Africa. In the same timeframe, Reserve antibiotics saw a 45 percent increase in Southeast Asia and a 125 percent rise in Africa.
Globally, out of the more than 3 million children who died, 2 million of these deaths were linked to the use of Watch and Reserve antibiotics.
“While the increase in the use of Watch and Reserve antibiotics may be warranted due to the parallel rise in drug-resistant infections, the rapid escalation in their usage poses several serious long-term threats,” remarked Professor Joseph Harwell, a co-author of the study.
“This increased reliance, particularly without vigilant management, raises the likelihood of resistance and restricts future treatment options. If bacteria develop resistance to these antibiotics, there will be few, if any, alternatives for managing multidrug-resistant infections,” noted Harwell.
Numerous factors exacerbate the severity of AMR in low- and middle-income nations, including overcrowded healthcare facilities, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient infection prevention strategies that promote the dissemination of resistant pathogens in healthcare environments and communities.
Moreover, many low- and middle-income countries lack robust national surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship programs, making it challenging to monitor resistance patterns and develop effective treatment protocols.
“The escalation of resistance to Watch and Reserve antibiotics will ultimately result in increased treatment failures,” said Professor Harwell, emphasizing that addressing this dilemma demands urgent and coordinated efforts at both regional and global scales.
