New research covering 82 countries has found that antibiotic resistance increased in every region of the world between 2004 and 2022, making common infections in children harder to treat, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- The study spanned 82 countries and covered the period 2004 to 2022.
- Antibiotic resistance increased in every region during that time.
- The findings highlight risks to children facing common infections such as chest and urinary tract infections.
- Immunocompromised children, including transplant recipients, are among the most vulnerable.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are increasingly leaving children exposed to common infections that were once routinely treatable, according to a global study reported by the Guardian. The research spanned 82 countries and found that antibiotic resistance increased in every region of the world between 2004 and 2022.
The Guardian illustrated the human impact through the case of Harry Booth, a 13-year-old in Australia who has repeatedly been in and out of hospital during the country’s coldest months with a range of common chest and urinary tract infections. His doctors have found these infections challenging to treat.
Harry’s vulnerability stems from his complex medical history. He was born with kidney failure and began dialysis at six months old, before receiving a kidney transplant from his father at the age of four. According to the Guardian, the surgery saved his life.
That life-saving surgery came with a trade-off. Harry now needs to take medications that suppress his immune system to prevent his body from rejecting the transplanted kidney, leaving him more susceptible to infections that resistant bacteria make harder to treat.
The study’s central finding, that resistance rose across every region measured over nearly two decades, points to a worldwide trend rather than a problem confined to any single country or health system. The research was described by the Guardian as an exclusive report.
Why it matters
Antibiotics underpin much of modern medicine, from treating everyday infections to enabling procedures like transplants. If resistance continues rising in every region, common childhood infections could become harder and more dangerous to treat, with immunocompromised children among those at greatest risk.
Frequently asked questions
How many countries did the study cover?
According to the Guardian, the research spanned 82 countries.
What time period did the research examine?
The study looked at antibiotic resistance between 2004 and 2022, finding it increased in every region during that time.
Why are some children especially vulnerable?
The Guardian highlighted the case of a 13-year-old kidney transplant recipient who takes immune-suppressing medications to prevent organ rejection, leaving him more susceptible to infections that resistant bacteria make harder to treat.