Antibiotic-resistant bacteria increasingly leaving children vulnerable to common infections, global study finds
Summary
A global study found that bacteria resistant to antibiotics are increasingly causing infections in children. This resistance has grown in every region from 2004 to 2022, making common infections harder to treat, especially in babies, children in intensive care, and countries with fewer health resources.Key Facts
- The study analyzed over 100,000 infection samples from children in 82 countries.
- Antibiotic resistance means bacteria no longer respond to medicines that used to kill them.
- Resistance is rising in severe infections like sepsis and pneumonia, often caused by Acinetobacter baumannii.
- Klebsiella bacteria, which cause urinary tract infections, showed the fastest rise in resistance, especially in parts of Asia, Europe, and the Pacific.
- Resistance to last-resort antibiotics may reach 82% for Acinetobacter and 35% for Klebsiella by 2035.
- Children have fewer antibiotic treatment options and are often overlooked in drug research and guidelines.
- The researchers created a website called AMR in K to track antibiotic resistance by country, bacteria, and drug type.
- Children with weakened immune systems, like those with transplants, face especially high risks from resistant infections.
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