Over Three Million Child Deaths Attributed to Antibiotic Resistance in 2022

The recent study indicates a tenfold rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) related infections among children, stressing the urgent need for global action to address this escalating public health threat.

More than three million children are estimated to have died in 2022 as a result of antibiotic-resistant infections, according to a revealing study by prominent child health experts. The research highlights that child fatalities were predominantly concentrated in Africa and Southeast Asia, which are facing an alarming increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This troubling development occurs as bacteria evolve, rendering common antibiotic treatments ineffective, thereby posing one of the most significant public health challenges today.

The authors of the report, which utilized data sourced from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank, emphasize the shocking statistic of over three million child deaths linked to drug-resistant infections in just one year. Alarmingly, the study noted more than a tenfold rise in AMR-related infections in children within three years—likely exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Antibiotics, critical for treating various bacterial infections such as skin conditions and pneumonia, are also used preemptively in some medical procedures. While they are ineffective against viral infections like the flu or COVID, inappropriate and excessive use has driven some bacteria to develop resistance. Simultaneously, the discovery and development of new antibiotics have been stalling, intensifying the situation.

Dr. Yanhong Jessika Hu and Professor Herb Harwell, the study's lead authors, attribute the steep rise in the use of "watch antibiotics" (those closely monitored for potential misuse) to a staggering 160% increase in Southeast Asia and a 126% increase in Africa from 2019 to 2021. The use of "reserve antibiotics," meant as last-resort options for severe infections, has also surged in similar measures.

With an increase in antibiotic-resistant strains, medical professionals warn that future treatment options for multidrug-resistant infections could dwindle significantly. Professor Harwell plans to present the findings at an upcoming Congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, emphasizing the urgent need to focus on the disproportionate impact of AMR on children worldwide.

The WHO has labeled AMR a critical global health threat, but solutions remain elusive. Professor Harwell calls for a multi-faceted approach to tackling this issue, highlighting the importance of preventing infections through better sanitation, hygiene, and vaccination practices.

Dr. Lindsey Edwards from King’s College London asserts that this study should alarm global health leaders, urging immediate action to reverse the trend before it potentially erodes decades of progress in child health, especially within the most vulnerable regions.