The Silent Crisis: How Drug-Resistant Infections Are Stealing Millions of Young Lives

A new global study has uncovered a harrowing truth: more than three million children died in 2022 due to infections that could no longer be treated with antibiotics. The majority of these deaths occurred in low-income regions, especially across Africa and Southeast Asia, where limited access to healthcare, clean water, and appropriate medications has made the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) even more severe.

The research, led by Dr. Yanhong Jessika Hu of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Professor Herb Harwell from the Clinton Health Access Initiative, draws on comprehensive data from organisations including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Bank. It reveals not just statistics but a growing global emergency — one where the very tools we’ve relied on to fight disease are losing their power.

What Is Antimicrobial Resistance?

Antimicrobial resistance, often abbreviated as AMR, occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites adapt in ways that render antibiotics and other treatments ineffective. When these microbes mutate, infections that were once easily curable can become life-threatening.

The overuse and misuse of antibiotics — including prescribing them for viral infections like colds and flu, which they can’t treat — is fuelling this problem. Another significant factor is the widespread use of antibiotics in livestock and agriculture, which allows resistant bacteria to spread through the environment, food chain, and ultimately to humans.

In recent years, there has been a notable uptick in the use of powerful antibiotics reserved only for the most severe cases. Between 2019 and 2021, the use of these “watch antibiotics” rose by over 160% in Southeast Asia and by 126% in Africa. Even more concerning, “reserve antibiotics”—often” described as the final line of defence against drug-resistant bacteria — saw a 45% rise in use in Southeast Asia and 125% in Africa during the same time period.

According to the authors, these increases are not just numbers — they reflect dwindling options for treatment. Once resistance to these critical medications sets in, we may be left with no effective tools to combat infections.

Children at the Epicenter

While AMR affects all demographics, the recent report underscores that children are bearing the brunt of this crisis. Young children, particularly those under five, are especially vulnerable to bacterial infections like pneumonia, sepsis, and diarrhoea—illnesses that, under normal circumstances, are treatable with the right antibiotics.

But as bacteria evolve to withstand current drugs, these once-manageable illnesses turn deadly. The study highlights a staggering increase in AMR-related child deaths — a more than tenfold surge in just three years.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated the issue. During the crisis, antibiotics were frequently prescribed — often unnecessarily — as a precautionary measure in both hospital and outpatient settings. This global overprescription may have accelerated the development of resistance, especially in areas with less oversight or infrastructure for responsible drug use.

The-Silent-Crisis-How-Drug-Resistant-Infections

A Complex Crisis With No Simple Solution

Speaking ahead of his presentation at the upcoming Congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Vienna, Professor Harwell emphasised the complex nature of the problem.

“Antimicrobial resistance is not confined to hospitals or developing nations. It is an issue that crosses borders and affects every part of human life,” he said. “Antibiotics are everywhere — in our food, our water, our environment. Tackling this crisis will take a coordinated and holistic effort.”

The path forward, while challenging, is not without direction. The most effective defence against AMR is preventing infections in the first place. This means improving vaccination rates, investing in better sanitation infrastructure, promoting hygiene, and educating communities on responsible antibiotic use.

Professor Harwell stressed the importance of ensuring that antibiotics are used only when necessary and with the correct diagnosis and dosage. “It’s not about limiting access — it’s about using these powerful tools wisely to preserve their effectiveness,” he explained.

The Urgent Call to Action

Experts warn that if decisive steps aren’t taken soon, AMR could reverse decades of progress in global health. Dr. Lindsey Edwards, a microbiology lecturer at King’s College London, described the findings as “deeply alarming.”

“This research highlights how antimicrobial resistance is disproportionately affecting children, particularly in parts of the world that already face enormous health challenges,” she said. “Without urgent global action, we risk returning to a time when a simple infection could claim the life of a child.”

Moving Forward

Despite the daunting outlook, solutions are within reach. Increased investment in the development of new antibiotics and alternative treatments is vital. Equally important is building stronger health systems, particularly in vulnerable regions, to ensure timely diagnosis and access to appropriate care. Global cooperation will be key. AMR knows no boundaries — and neither can our response.The loss of three million young lives in one year due to drug-resistant infections is a tragedy that demands immediate and sustained attention. This is not just a medical crisis — it is a moral one. The world cannot afford to wait. The time to act is now.