A historical study presented today at Escmid Global 2025 revealed that more than 3 million children around the world lost their lives in 2022 due to infections linked to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Vienna,, April 12, 2025 / Prnewswire / – The study highlights the urgent need for regional and global strategies to control pediatric RAM, especially in high drilling areas such as Southeast Asia And Africa. AMR is a critical threat to children, very vulnerable to infections. Access to new antibiotic formulations is often much more limited for children due to product development delays.
Study data revealed that in 2022 only, more than 752,000 children Southeast Asia and 659,000 children Africa died of complications associated with AMR. Many of these deaths have been linked to the use of watch antibiotics (high -risk drugs of resistance) and antibiotic reserve (latest contract treatments for severe and multidistant infections).
Surveillance and reserve antibiotics are not intended for first -line treatment and their use should only be limited for those who need it to preserve their effectiveness and reduce the development of resistance.
Between 2019 and 2021, the use of watch antibiotics increased by 160% Southeast Asia and 126% in Africa. During the same period, the use of reserve antibiotics increased by 45% Southeast Asia and 125% in Africa.
Globally, out of more than 3 million deaths for children, 2 million have been associated with the use of surveillance and reserve antibiotics.
“Although the increase in the use of surveillance and reserve antibiotics may be necessary in response to the simultaneous increase in drug -resisting infections, the sharp increase in these drugs has several serious long -term risks,” commented the professor Joseph Harwellco-author of the study. “Their increased use, in particular without meticulous monitoring, raises the risk of resistance and limits future treatment options. If bacteria develop resistance to these antibiotics, there will be little or no alternatives to treat multidrogue resistance infections.”
Several factors contribute to the severity of the AMR in low and intermediate income countries, including overcrowded hospitals, poor sanitation and low infections prevention measures that facilitate the spread of resistant pathogens in health and communities.
Professor Harwell added that “mortality rates, which are already alarming, will continue to increase considerably, in particular in low and average income countries, where access to alternative treatments and advanced medical interventions can be limited. The resolution of this problem requires urgent and coordinated action at regional and global levels.”
Source Escmid Global
