Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a threat to child survival and health
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health threat that has already reached alarming levels. According to a recent study even 1.27 million deaths were directly associated with antibiotic resistance worldwide in 2019. Antibiotic resistance is causing several classes of antibiotics becoming useless against common infections including several diseases associated with high morbidity and mortality in children, such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, and neonatal sepsis.
Children are more susceptible to diseases caused by drug-resistant microbes
According to UNICEF's technical note on antimicrobial resistance, in 2016 even 40% of deaths among children under five years old and neonates were globally caused by diseases which treatment is affected by the growing threat of AMR. Children are particularly vulnerable as their immune systems are not fully developed and they are more susceptible to diseases caused by drug-resistant microbes. In low-resource settings, children have limited access to good hygiene and sanitary conditions that would help to control the spread of AMR-infections.
UNICEF's technical note identifies AMR-specific and AMR-sensitive actions in three priority areas:
- reducing the incidence of infection,
- promoting optimal use and access to antimicrobial agents, and
- increasing awareness and understanding of AMR.
Time is running out and immediate actions are required to decrease the global burden of antimicrobial resistance.
Proper use of antibiotics is key in fighting against AMR
Aidian takes part in supporting antimicrobial stewardship and sustainable use of antibiotics in primary care. In healthcare, proper use of antibiotics is key in fighting against AMR: decreasing antibiotic overuse and providing antibiotics to those patients who benefit from the treatment. Fast, accurate and easy to use diagnostics play an important role in decreasing antibiotic overuse. Read more about AMR from our website: Antimicrobial resistance and CRP
References:
- UNICEF's Technical Note on Antimicrobial Resistance (2019), available at: https://www.unicef.org/documents/time-running-out
- Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis, available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02724-0