A concerning decline in the effectiveness of antibiotics used to treat common infections among children has been reported worldwide. Research indicates that the efficacy of these crucial medications is frequently falling below 50 percent. There is an urgent need for the revision of existing treatment protocols and an increase in funding for research to confront the escalating crisis of antibiotic resistance. This situation presents a grave risk to children’s health internationally, with the crisis being particularly pronounced in South-East Asia and the Pacific.
Immediate Updates to Treatment Protocols Needed
Around the world, antibiotics that are routinely prescribed to treat common childhood infections are becoming less effective due to the widespread issue of antibiotic resistance.
A study conducted by the University of Sydney has found that antibiotics, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for treating childhood infections, are under 50 percent effective for conditions such as pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis. This indicates that the global guidelines for antibiotic usage are outdated and require revision.
Regional Impact and WHO’s Alert
Regions like South-East Asia and the Pacific, notably Indonesia and the Philippines, are facing the brunt of this issue, with antibiotic resistance leading to numerous preventable child fatalities annually.
The WHO has identified antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the top 10 global public health threats to humans. Annually, about three million newborns suffer from sepsis worldwide, with fatalities reaching up to 570,000. Many of these deaths are attributed to the ineffectiveness of antibiotics against resistant bacteria.
The research, which has been featured in the Lancet South East Asia, confirms that bacteria causing sepsis and meningitis in children are frequently resistant to the antibiotics usually prescribed.
The research emphasizes the necessity of revising global antibiotic guidelines to address the rapid progression of AMR. The most recent WHO guidelines on this issue were published in 2013.
Antibiotics Waning in Effectiveness and the Imperative for Guideline Revamp
The study showed that ceftriaxone, a commonly used antibiotic, was likely effective in only one out of three sepsis or meningitis cases in newborns. This antibiotic is also a common prescription in Australia for various children’s infections.
Dr. Phoebe Williams, an infectious disease expert, is at the forefront of the fight against AMR. Her research is concentrated on diminishing AMR in regions with a high prevalence, such as Southeast Asia, and she practices as a clinician in Australia. Dr. Williams points out the growing frequency of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections in children internationally.
AMR poses a more significant challenge in children compared to adults, as new antibiotics are less frequently tested or made available to the pediatric population.
Dr. Williams underscores the importance of this study as a global alert, including to Australia, emphasizing the rapid increase of antibiotic resistance. She calls for innovative solutions to combat invasive multidrug-resistant infections and to prevent the unnecessary loss of children’s lives.
Necessity for Research and Development Investment
The study reviewed the susceptibility of 6,648 bacterial isolates from 11 countries across 86 studies to antibiotics, focusing on those causing childhood infections.
Dr. Williams advocates for prioritized funding for new antibiotic research for children and newborns, noting that the clinical focus on antibiotics has been predominantly on adults, leaving children and newborns with very limited treatment options and data.
Currently, Dr. Williams is investigating the use of fosfomycin, an older antibiotic, to treat multidrug-resistant urinary tract infections in children in Australia.
Additionally, she collaborates with the WHO’s Paediatric Drug Optimisation Committee to ensure that children can access necessary antibiotics to combat multidrug-resistant infections as quickly as possible, thereby reducing AMR-related mortality in children.
Senior author Paul Turner, from the Cambodia Oxford Medical Research Unit at Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap and a professor at the University of Oxford, UK, stresses the study’s revelation of significant issues with the availability of effective antibiotics for treating severe infections in children. He also emphasizes the continuous need for high-quality laboratory data to monitor AMR trends, which is critical for making timely revisions to treatment guidelines.
Reference: “Coverage gaps in empiric antibiotic regimens used to treat serious bacterial infections in neonates and children in Southeast Asia and the Pacific” by Phoebe C.M. Williams et al., The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, October 31, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100291
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about antibiotic resistance children
What is the current state of antibiotic effectiveness for common childhood infections?
The current state of antibiotic effectiveness for treating common childhood infections is alarmingly low, with essential drugs often falling below 50 percent efficacy worldwide. This has prompted an urgent call for the update of global treatment guidelines and increased investment in research to address the critical issue of antibiotic resistance.
How does antibiotic resistance impact children’s health globally?
Antibiotic resistance significantly impacts children’s health, particularly in regions such as South-East Asia and the Pacific, where it leads to thousands of preventable deaths annually. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the top 10 global public health threats, which is especially concerning for newborns who face high mortality rates from infections like sepsis due to ineffective antibiotics.
Which regions are most affected by antibiotic resistance in children?
The regions most affected by antibiotic resistance in children are South-East Asia and the Pacific. Countries like Indonesia and the Philippines experience a high number of child fatalities due to the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant infections.
What does the University of Sydney’s study reveal about WHO guidelines on antibiotic use?
The University of Sydney’s study reveals that the World Health Organization’s guidelines on antibiotic use are outdated. The study found that recommended antibiotics for childhood infections like pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis have less than 50 percent effectiveness in treating these conditions, highlighting the need for updated global guidelines.
What are the findings regarding specific antibiotics like ceftriaxone and gentamicin?
The findings indicate that ceftriaxone is likely effective in only about one-third of sepsis or meningitis cases in newborns. Similarly, gentamicin is likely effective in fewer than half of all sepsis and meningitis cases in children. This demonstrates a significant reduction in the effectiveness of these antibiotics against childhood infections.
What is the call to action for addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in children?
The call to action for addressing AMR in children includes updating global antibiotic guidelines, investing in research and development of new antibiotics for children and newborns, and improving laboratory data quality to monitor AMR trends effectively. This approach aims to enhance treatment protocols and prevent further unnecessary deaths of children due to resistant infections.
What is Dr. Phoebe Williams’ role in combating antimicrobial resistance?
Dr. Phoebe Williams is an infectious disease specialist who is actively engaged in research to reduce AMR in high-burden settings, particularly in Southeast Asia. She also works as a clinician in Australia and is involved in exploring alternative treatments like fosfomycin for multidrug-resistant infections in children, as well as collaborating with WHO to optimize pediatric drug availability.
Why is research and development in new antibiotics for children emphasized?
Research and development in new antibiotics for children are emphasized because the current clinical focus on antibiotics is largely adult-centric. This leaves children and newborns with very limited treatment options. Prioritizing funding for pediatric antibiotic research is crucial to address this gap and to develop effective treatments for resistant infections in younger patients.
More about antibiotic resistance children
- Antibiotic Resistance and Children’s Health
- Global Health Threats: AMR
- The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia
- University of Sydney Research on Antibiotics
- Pediatric Antibiotic Resistance Study
- AMR in Southeast Asia and the Pacific
- Investment in Antibiotic Research
- Updating Global Antibiotic Guidelines
- Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute
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5 comments
gotta wonder how we let it get this bad, where are the new drugs and why aren’t they being developed faster, the big pharma companies need to step up here
i think we all knew antibiotic resistance was an issue but seeing it laid out like this, with actual stats? It’s a wake-up call for sure.
Really alarming to see the numbers here just shows how serious the antibiotic resistance problem is getting all over the world.
It’s just scary, you know, thinking about how something as common as pneumonia could be a death sentence again for kids. we need action on this now.
This article is a good sum up of the crisis we’re facing but what about the solutions? Who’s leading the charge on research for new antibiotics?