More Than Three Million Children Died in 2022 Due to Drug Resistance: Study

A recent study reveals that over three million children, primarily from Southeast Asia and Africa, died in 2022 from infections resistant to antibiotics, Al Jazeera reported. The report by ESCMID highlights that more than 752,000 deaths occurred in Southeast Asia and 659,000 in Africa due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) complications.

Professor Joseph Harwell from the Clinton Health Access Initiative noted that the overuse and misuse of certain medications have led to bacteria evolving resistance, creating a critical threat to vulnerable children. The rise in the use of “Watch” and “Reserve” antibiotics, meant for serious infections, has significantly increased in these regions, contributing to the crisis.

Factors such as overcrowded hospitals, poor sanitation, and weak infection control measures exacerbate the situation in low- and middle-income countries. The study calls for urgent and coordinated global strategies to combat pediatric AMR and improve surveillance and treatment protocols.