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4d ago

Global Study Exposes Critical Antibiotic Access Gaps in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Only 6.9% of drug-resistant infections in eight nations received appropriate treatment in 2019, with nearly half a million deaths linked to inadequate access.

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Overview

  • A GARDP study published in *Lancet Infectious Diseases* reveals stark disparities in access to antibiotics for carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative (CRGN) infections across eight low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
  • In 2019, only 6.9% of CRGN infections in these countries were treated with appropriate antibiotics, with India reporting just 7.8% coverage and an estimated 350,000 related deaths.
  • The study estimates 1.5 million CRGN infections and nearly 480,000 deaths in 2019 across Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, India, Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan, and South Africa.
  • Fewer than 104,000 courses of antibiotics effective against CRGN bacteria were procured for these nations, highlighting a significant treatment shortfall.
  • Researchers call for urgent global action, advocating for equitable access strategies modeled on the HIV response, including voluntary licensing and treatment cascade targets.