More than three million children died in 2022 worldwide due to infections related to microbial resistance, as a study, presented at the conference of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and infectious Diseases ESCMID Global2025.

Specifically, in only 2022, more than 752,000 children in Southeast Asia and 659,000 children in Africa died of complications associated with microbial endurance.

Many factors contribute to the severity of microbial strength in low and medium -income countries, including hospitals, poor hygiene and weak infections prevention measures that facilitate the spread of resistant pathogens in health environment. Due to the lack of diagnostic tools and worries about incorrect diagnosis, excessive use and abuse of antibiotics are also widespread in these areas. In addition, many low and medium income countries lack effective national germ surveillance and management programs, which makes it difficult to monitor endurance tendencies and establish effective treatment protocols.

Worldwide, of more than three million deaths, the two million were associated with the use of antibiotics, which are included in the Watch and Reserve categories.

Watch and reserve antibiotics are not intended for first -line treatment and their use should only be limited to treat serious infections in order to maintain their effectiveness and reduce the development of endurance. On the contrary, the antibiotics of the Access category are the most widely available and used to treat common infections due to their lower potential to increase strength. During 2019-2021 the use of Watch antibiotics increased by 160% in Southeast Asia and 126% in Africa. Also, the use of reserve antibiotics increased by 45% in Southeast Asia and 125% in Africa.

“While increasing the use of Watch and Reserve antibiotics may be necessary in response to the simultaneous increase in infections resistant drugs, the sharp increase in the use of these drugs presents several serious long -term risks,” commented Professor Joseph Hargou. Risk of endurance and limits future treatment options. If the bacteria develop resistance to these antibiotics, there will be few, if any, alternatives for the treatment of multi -resistant infections. “