Global study warns of rising AMR in children
More than three million kids worldwide lost their lives in 2022 due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR)-related illnesses, a new landmark study has demonstrated.
AMR a Growing Threat to Paediatric Health
A groundbreaking study presented today at the ESCMID Global 2025 event in Vienna, Austria, highlights the urgent need for targeted global and regional strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in children—especially in high-burden regions like South-East Asia and Africa.
Children are particularly vulnerable to infections, yet access to appropriate antibiotic formulations for them is often delayed due to limited pediatric product development. This mismatch has contributed to devastating consequences.
Alarming Mortality Linked to Drug Resistance
In 2022 alone, the study reported that over 752,000 children in Southeast Asia and 659,000 children in Africa died due to AMR-associated complications. A significant portion of these deaths were connected to the inappropriate or excessive use of Watch and Reserve antibiotics.
- Watch antibiotics: Drugs with a high risk of developing resistance.
- Reserve antibiotics: Last-line treatments reserved for the most severe, multidrug-resistant infections.
“These drugs are not meant for routine use,” the study cautioned, urging that they be strictly used in specific, severe cases to maintain their effectiveness.
Spike in Use of High-Risk Antibiotics
Between 2019 and 2021, usage of high-risk antibiotics surged:
- Watch antibiotics:
- Up 160% in Southeast Asia
- Up 126% in Africa
- Reserve antibiotics:
- Up 45% in Southeast Asia
- Up 125% in Africa
Globally, 2 million out of over 3 million child deaths in that period were associated with these two high-risk drug categories.
“While the increased use may reflect the rise of drug-resistant infections, the long-term risks are extremely concerning,” warned Professor Joseph Harwell, co-author of the study.
Why AMR Is Worse in Developing Regions
Multiple factors contribute to the rise of AMR in low- and middle-income countries:
- Overcrowded hospitals
- Poor sanitation
- Inadequate infection control
- Lack of effective national surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship programmes
These conditions create an ideal environment for resistant pathogens to spread both within hospitals and communities, undermining public health efforts.
Call for Global Action
Professor Harwell emphasized the urgency of coordinated global action, stating:
“Rising resistance to Watch and Reserve antibiotics will ultimately lead to higher treatment failure rates. If these drugs stop working, we will have almost no options left for treating severe infections.”
The study serves as a stark reminder that while antibiotics save lives, misuse and overuse—especially of powerful last-resort drugs—can have catastrophic consequences for future generations.