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3w ago

Over 3 Million Children Died from Antimicrobial Resistance in 2022, Study Finds

A landmark ESCMID Global 2025 study highlights the urgent pediatric AMR crisis, with rising deaths linked to high-risk antibiotic misuse in Southeast Asia and Africa.

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Overview

  • The study presented at ESCMID Global 2025 confirms over 3 million pediatric deaths globally in 2022 due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR)-related infections.
  • Southeast Asia and Africa were the hardest-hit regions, with over 752,000 and 659,000 child deaths, respectively, linked to AMR complications.
  • Approximately 2 million deaths were associated with the misuse of Watch and Reserve antibiotics, which are intended for limited use to prevent resistance development.
  • Between 2019 and 2021, the use of Watch antibiotics surged by 160% in Southeast Asia and 126% in Africa, while Reserve antibiotic use rose by 125% in Africa alone.
  • Experts call for urgent global action, including improved surveillance, mandatory pediatric antimicrobial stewardship programs, and regional policy reforms to curb AMR's impact.