Three million deaths of children in connection with drug resistance

It is believed that more than three million children around the world died of the consequences of infections that are resistant to antibiotics in 2022, according to a study by two leading experts in childhood.

Children in Africa and Southeast Asia were most at risk.

Animicrobial resistance – known as AMR – develops when the microbes that cause infections, develop in such a way that antibiotics no longer work.

It was identified as one of the greatest threats to public health for the world’s population.

A new study now shows the tribute that Amr takes over children.

Based on data from several sources, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank, the authors of the report calculated that more than three million deaths were associated for children in 2022.

Experts say that this new study highlights more than ten times the increase in AMR-related infections in children in just three years.

The number could have worsened by the effects of the Covid pandemic.

Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent a variety of bacterial infections – all from skin infections to pneumonia.

Sometimes they are also intended as a precaution to prevent, and non -treating infection – for example if someone has an operation or chemotherapy for cancer.

However, antibiotics have no influence on virus infections – diseases such as cold, flu or covid.

But some bacteria have now developed resistance to some medication due to their excessive and inappropriate use, while the production of new antibiotics – a lengthy and costly process – has immediately slowed down.

The leading authors of the report, Doctor Yanhong Jessika Hu vom Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Australia and Professor Herb Harwell from the “Clinton Health Access” initiative, indicate significant growth of the use of antibiotics, which should only be held back for the most serious infections.

Between 2019 and 2021 the use of “Watch antibiotics”, medication with a high risk of resistance, in Southeast Asia by 160% and in Africa rose by 126%.

During the same period, “Reserve antibiotics” -Last -Resort -treatments for severe, multi -resistant infections -rose by 45% in Southeast Asia and 125% in Africa.

The authors warn that bacteria that develop resistance to these antibiotics give only a few alternatives to the treatment of multi -resistant infections.

Prof. Harwell presents the findings at the Congress of the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Vienna later this month.

“Amr is a global problem. It affects everyone. We really did this work to really concentrate in the disproportionate way of children,” he said before the event.

“We appreciate three million deaths of children worldwide in connection with antimicrobial resistance.”

The WHO describes AMR as one of the most serious global health threats We see each other, but Prof. Harwell warns that there are no simple answers.

“It is a multifaceted problem that extends into all aspects of medicine and really human life,” he said.

“Antibiotics are omnipresent around us, they end up in our food and the environment and so it is not easy to find a single solution.”

The best way to avoid resistant infection is to avoid infection completely, which means that a higher level of immunization, water hygiene and hygiene is required.

“More antibiotics are used because more people need them, but we have to make sure that they are used appropriately and the right medication is used.”

Dr. Lindsey Edwards, a senior lecturer in microbiology at King’s College London, said that the new study marks “a significant and alarming increase in comparison to previous data”.

“These findings should serve as a wake -up call for global health leaders. Without crucial measures, AMR -long progress in childhood health could undermine, especially in the most endangered regions in the world.”