Sun Apr 13 14:48:50 UTC 2025: ## Millions of Children Died in 2022 Due to Antibiotic-Resistant Infections
**Vienna, Austria** – A new report released by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) reveals that over three million children died in 2022 due to infections resistant to antibiotics. The alarming statistic highlights the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The study, presented in Austria, pinpoints Southeast Asia and Africa as regions disproportionately affected, with over 752,000 and 659,000 child deaths respectively attributed to AMR-related complications. More than 1.5 million deaths were recorded in other parts of the world.
The report attributes the crisis to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, particularly “Watch” and “Reserve” antibiotics—drugs intended for only serious infections—which are increasingly used as first-line treatments in many areas. This inappropriate use has driven the evolution of drug-resistant bacteria, leaving limited treatment options for severe infections.
Professor Joseph Harwell of the Clinton Health Access Initiative, a co-author of the study, stressed the long-term risks associated with this trend, particularly for vulnerable children. He emphasized that the development of resistance to these antibiotics leaves few alternative treatments for multidrug-resistant infections.
Contributing factors in low- and middle-income countries include overcrowded hospitals, poor sanitation, inadequate infection prevention measures, and a lack of effective surveillance systems to track resistance and inform treatment strategies.
The ESCMID urges immediate and coordinated global action to combat this crisis, advocating for regional and international strategies to tackle the escalating threat of antibiotic-resistant infections in children. The report underscores the urgent need for improved antibiotic stewardship, enhanced infection control practices, and strengthened surveillance systems in affected regions.
First Piper 