Over Three Million Child Deaths Linked to Antibiotic Resistance: A Dire New Study Reveals**

**Description: A recent study highlights alarming figures, with antimicrobial resistance leading to over three million childhood deaths globally in 2022, particularly in Africa and South East Asia.**

**Summary: The findings from a study conducted by child health experts underscore the pressing global health crisis posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is escalating at an alarming rate, with calls for urgent action to protect vulnerable children.**


A recent study from renowned child health experts reveals a heartbreaking statistic – over three million children worldwide succumbed to infections resistant to antibiotics in 2022. The research indicates that children in Africa and South East Asia are at the highest risk, as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) emerges as a significant public health threat globally.

With the data compiled from various sources, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank, the findings show a more than tenfold rise in AMR-related infections among children within three years. This alarming trend has potentially been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic, leading to an increase in antibiotic prescriptions.

Antibiotics, pivotal in treating various bacterial infections ranging from skin ailments to pneumonia, have faced challenges due to overuse and misuse. While these medications have proven effective against bacterial infections, they offer no relief against viral illness, including the common cold, flu, or COVID-19. In an alarming trend, the utilization of “watch antibiotics” – a classification of drugs designated for serious infections – surged dramatically, with a 160% increase in South East Asia and 126% in Africa between 2019 and 2021. Meanwhile, the consumption of “reserve antibiotics” – last-resort options for multidrug-resistant infections – rose by 45% in South East Asia and 125% in Africa during the same period.

Report authors Dr. Yanhong Jessika Hu from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Professor Herb Harwell from the Clinton Health Access Initiative stress that the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria presents a catastrophic threat to the treatment of complex infections. In a bid to highlight the urgent need for action, Prof. Harwell will present the findings at the upcoming Congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Vienna.

Highlighting the global nature of the problem, Prof. Harwell underscores that AMR has disproportionate impacts on children, asserting that the estimated three million child deaths worldwide associated with AMR should incite immediate concern among global health leaders.

Recognized by the WHO as a severe threat to global health, AMR remains a multifaceted issue spanning various medical and lifestyle domains. The most effective strategy to mitigate resistant infections involves a robust approach to infection prevention through enhanced immunization, improved sanitation, and hygiene practices.

Senior lecturer Dr. Lindsey Edwards from King's College London echoes the study's urgency, stating the findings mark a significant increase in child health risks and demand immediate action from health authorities to counteract the threat posed by AMR, or risk reversing decades of health advancements in the most vulnerable populations.