A world-first global study published in JAMA Pediatrics warns thatantimicrobial resistance (AMR) in children is rising rapidly across the globe, threatening the efficacy of life-saving antibiotics. Led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) alongside international collaborators, the researchers analyzed over 106,000 infection samples across 82 countries. The findings reveal that infants, children in intensive care, and low-resource healthcare settings are being hardest hit, driven primarily by Gram-negative superbugs like Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella, which cause severe conditions such as sepsis, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections.
Alarmingly, the study highlights that resistance is escalating fastest among critical "Watch" and "Reserve" class antibiotics – the second- and last-line treatments reserved for when standard options fail. Predictive modeling indicates that by 2035, resistance to last-resort carbapenem antibiotics could reach up to 82% for certain high-risk pathogens. To help clinicians and policymakers tackle this growing crisis, the research team launched the "AMR in Kids" tracking platform to map region-specific resistance trends, while urging global health leaders to address antibiotic overuse, improve sanitation, and develop child-specific antibiotic formulations.
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