A new study has revealed that more than three million children around the world died in 2022 because of antibiotic resistance (AMR), a biological phenomenon where the infections one contracts no longer respond to standard antibiotic treatments.

The report, compiled by researchers from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Australia and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, spotlights what experts are calling a “silent pandemic” – the growing AMR crisis.

The toll has been highest in low- and middle-income countries, with Southeast Asia and Africa accounting for over 1.4 million child deaths between them. The report specifically pointed out that in 2022 alone, more than 7,52,000 children in Southeast Asia and 6,59,000 children in Africa died from AMR-associated complications.

Experts say this isn’t a new problem—but it is getting worse fast. In fact, the study notes that In just three years, researchers discovered a tenfold rise in infant deaths linked to AMR.

Antibiotics, which are meant to treat infections like pneumonia or those following surgery, are losing their power as bacteria evolve. The researchers warned that misuse and overuse of antibiotics are major contributors. India, for instance, has been named a hotspot for AMR because of widespread misuse, easy access and regulatory gaps.

Drug Overuse Fuels Antibiotic Resistance 

One of the most worrying trends has been the spike in use of strong antibiotics reserved for severe or hard-to-treat infections. The report highlights that use of “watch antibiotics” rose by 126% in Africa and 160% in Southeast Asia between 2019 and 2021. Meanwhile, the use of ‘reserve antibiotics, which are last-resort medications for illnesses that are resistant to multiple medicines, increased by 125% and 45%, respectively.

The WHO classifies antibiotics into three categories—Access (safe for common use), Watch (higher risk of resistance), and Reserve (last-resort options)—to help countries use them more wisely and slow down the rise of drug resistance.

To tackle the problem, the study recommends a “One Health” approach, emphasizing the need to monitor how infections spread between people, animals, and the environment. It also calls for better hospital practices, especially in facilities treating children, and the creation of national guidelines so doctors can use regular health data to guide responsible antibiotic use.

Also read: Antibiotic resistance could cause 39 million deaths globally by 2050 – First Check