Over Three Million Children Lost Their Lives to AMR-Related Infections in 2022, Study Reveals Urgent Need for Global Action
In a groundbreaking study presented at ESCMID Global 2025, startling statistics reveal that over three million children succumbed to infections linked to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in 2022. The findings underscore an immediate need for comprehensive regional and global strategies to combat pediatric AMR, particularly in highly impacted regions such as Southeast Asia and Africa where mortality rates are alarmingly high.
Antimicrobial resistance is a critical issue that significantly endangers children, who are especially susceptible to infections. The barriers to accessing effective treatments such as new antibiotic formulations are exacerbated for this age group due to developmental delays in product availability.
The study's data indicates that in 2022 alone, Southeast Asia saw over 752,000 child fatalities, whereas Africa recorded approximately 659,000 deaths as a result of AMR complications. Many of these fatalities were associated with the use of 'Watch' and 'Reserve' antibiotics—the former being at high risk of leading to resistance and the latter reserved as a last resort for severe, multidrug-resistant infections.
These classes of antibiotics should not be used as a primary treatment and should be restricted to situations where necessary to maintain their effectiveness and curb resistance development. Alarmingly, between 2019 and 2021, the use of Watch antibiotics surged by 160% in Southeast Asia and 126% in Africa. During the same period, Reserve antibiotics experienced usage increases of 45% in Southeast Asia and 125% in Africa.
Globally, 2 million of the over three million child deaths are connected to the use of Watch and Reserve antibiotics. Professor Joseph Harwell, a co-author of the study, commented on these findings, saying, "While the increased use of Watch and Reserve antibiotics may seem necessary due to rising resistant infections, this trend poses significant long-term risks. Their heightened use without proper monitoring not only increases the chance of resistance but also limits future therapeutic options. If pathogens develop resistance to these last-resort antibiotics, viable alternative treatments for multidrug-resistant infections will be severely restricted."
Several factors contribute to the rise of AMR in low- and middle-income nations, including overcrowded hospitals, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient infection prevention measures, all of which facilitate the dissemination of resistant pathogens in healthcare settings and communities.
With current mortality rates already alarmingly high, Professor Harwell warns that these figures will continue to escalate, particularly in lower-income countries where access to alternative treatments and advanced medical interventions is severely limited. Addressing this urgent public health crisis necessitates coordinated actions on both regional and global scales to establish comprehensive policies that combat AMR and improve pediatric health outcomes worldwide.
The study serves as a critical call to action for governments, healthcare providers, and policymakers to prioritize the eradication of antimicrobial resistance and safeguard the wellbeing of future generations by ensuring that children receive timely access to effective treatments, thus potentially saving countless young lives.
Antimicrobial resistance is a critical issue that significantly endangers children, who are especially susceptible to infections. The barriers to accessing effective treatments such as new antibiotic formulations are exacerbated for this age group due to developmental delays in product availability.
The study's data indicates that in 2022 alone, Southeast Asia saw over 752,000 child fatalities, whereas Africa recorded approximately 659,000 deaths as a result of AMR complications. Many of these fatalities were associated with the use of 'Watch' and 'Reserve' antibiotics—the former being at high risk of leading to resistance and the latter reserved as a last resort for severe, multidrug-resistant infections.
These classes of antibiotics should not be used as a primary treatment and should be restricted to situations where necessary to maintain their effectiveness and curb resistance development. Alarmingly, between 2019 and 2021, the use of Watch antibiotics surged by 160% in Southeast Asia and 126% in Africa. During the same period, Reserve antibiotics experienced usage increases of 45% in Southeast Asia and 125% in Africa.
Globally, 2 million of the over three million child deaths are connected to the use of Watch and Reserve antibiotics. Professor Joseph Harwell, a co-author of the study, commented on these findings, saying, "While the increased use of Watch and Reserve antibiotics may seem necessary due to rising resistant infections, this trend poses significant long-term risks. Their heightened use without proper monitoring not only increases the chance of resistance but also limits future therapeutic options. If pathogens develop resistance to these last-resort antibiotics, viable alternative treatments for multidrug-resistant infections will be severely restricted."
Several factors contribute to the rise of AMR in low- and middle-income nations, including overcrowded hospitals, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient infection prevention measures, all of which facilitate the dissemination of resistant pathogens in healthcare settings and communities.
With current mortality rates already alarmingly high, Professor Harwell warns that these figures will continue to escalate, particularly in lower-income countries where access to alternative treatments and advanced medical interventions is severely limited. Addressing this urgent public health crisis necessitates coordinated actions on both regional and global scales to establish comprehensive policies that combat AMR and improve pediatric health outcomes worldwide.
The study serves as a critical call to action for governments, healthcare providers, and policymakers to prioritize the eradication of antimicrobial resistance and safeguard the wellbeing of future generations by ensuring that children receive timely access to effective treatments, thus potentially saving countless young lives.
Topics Health）
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