antimicrobial resistance

A recent global study has sounded alarm bells over the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), revealing that 3 million child deaths in 2022 were linked to infections no longer responding to standard antibiotics. The report, compiled by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (Australia) and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, highlights how AMR is fast becoming a global health crisis—particularly affecting children in Africa and Southeast Asia. AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, or fungi evolve to resist the effects of medicines that once worked against them. As a result, common infections become harder—and sometimes impossible—to treat. This “silent pandemic” has been aggravated by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, especially in countries like India, which has been flagged as a hotspot due to regulatory gaps and easy access to drugs. Key findings include: 3 million global child deaths in 2022 were AMR-related. 752,000 child deaths occurred in Southeast Asia, and 659,000 in Africa. Use of ‘watch antibiotics’ (for serious infections) rose by 126% in Africa and 160% in Southeast Asia from 2019 to 2021. Use of ‘reserve antibiotics’ (last-resort drugs) increased by 125% and 45%, respectively. The study attributes the rise to overcrowded hospitals, poor sanitation, lack of diagnostic access, and weak antimicrobial stewardship. It also underscores the slow pace of new antibiotic development, which further reduces treatment options for resistant infections. Experts recommend a “One Health” approach, integrating data on how infections spread among humans, animals, and the environment. They also urge stronger national policies, hospital-level antibiotic regulation, and the use of real-time health data to guide responsible treatment decisions. With the World Health Organization already warning about AMR’s impact on mortality and health systems, the report stresses that immediate action is critical to prevent a catastrophic rise in untreatable infections among the most vulnerable—our children. Source: Indiatoday