More than three million children worldwide are believed to have died in 2022 due to infections resistant to antibiotics, according to a study on the alarming rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This issue, which has been identified as one of the most significant global health threats, particularly affects children in Africa and Southeast Asia, where the risk is disproportionately high.
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when microbes, such as bacteria, evolve in ways that render antibiotics ineffective. This phenomenon has grown in recent years due to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, coupled with a slowdown in the development of new drugs. While antibiotics are crucial in treating a wide range of bacterial infections, they have no impact on viral infections, such as the common cold or influenza. However, bacteria have adapted to become resistant to many antibiotics, complicating treatment options for infections that were once easily curable.
The impact of AMR on child mortality is a growing concern. The new study, based on data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank, suggests a more than tenfold increase in AMR-related deaths in children over the past three years. The situation has likely worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to increased antibiotic use, sometimes unnecessarily. The rise in AMR-related deaths among children highlights the urgent need for action to combat the spread of drug-resistant infections.
Antibiotics, including “watch antibiotics” (which have a high risk of developing resistance) and “reserve antibiotics” (which are used as last-resort treatments for severe infections), are increasingly being used inappropriately in many parts of the world. Between 2019 and 2021, the use of “watch antibiotics” in Southeast Asia increased by 160%, while in Africa, the figure rose by 126%. Similarly, the use of “reserve antibiotics” grew by 45% in Southeast Asia and 125% in Africa during the same period. This overuse is a major factor contributing to the rapid development of antibiotic resistance, leaving few options for treating multidrug-resistant infections.
The consequences of antimicrobial resistance are dire. If bacteria continue to develop resistance to these critical drugs, medical professionals could be left with few or no effective treatments for serious infections, leading to even more deaths. The growing resistance also undermines advances in medicine, particularly in areas like surgery, cancer treatment, and organ transplants, where antibiotics are used to prevent infections.
The WHO has called AMR one of the most serious threats to global health, and experts warn that addressing it requires a multi-faceted approach. One of the key strategies is improving hygiene, sanitation, and immunization to prevent infections in the first place. Furthermore, there needs to be greater awareness of the importance of using antibiotics only when necessary and ensuring that the right antibiotics are prescribed.
There are no easy solutions to AMR, as the issue is deeply embedded in how antibiotics are used in medicine, agriculture, and the environment. The problem is compounded by the fact that antibiotics are present not only in human medicine but also in food production and the environment, where they can contribute to the development of resistant bacteria.
Experts argue that tackling AMR requires coordinated global action, involving governments, healthcare systems, and the public. There is a need for greater investment in research to develop new antibiotics and alternative treatments. However, the focus must also remain on prevention by improving access to vaccines, clean water, and proper sanitation, as well as regulating the use of antibiotics in both healthcare and agriculture.
The new findings are a stark reminder of the growing threat of AMR and the need for immediate and sustained efforts to safeguard the effectiveness of antibiotics. Without decisive action, the progress made in improving child health and combating infectious diseases could be severely undermined, particularly in the world’s most vulnerable regions.
