Urgent warning issued over spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that could reach UK
Researchers issue ‘early warning’ over antibiotic-resistant bacteria
- Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria spread rapidly among children being treated for severe malnutrition in a hospital facility in Niger, according to a new study.
- Researchers have issued an "early warning" that this could reach the UK, highlighting how quickly antimicrobial resistance can spread globally.
- The study, involving over 1,300 children, found that 76 per cent carried bacteria with ESBL genes, and 25 per cent carried carbapenemase genes, with many acquiring resistance during their hospital stay.
- This situation provides stark evidence that humanitarian crises amplify the silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance, putting vulnerable children at risk of untreatable infections.
- Experts are calling for urgent global investment in antimicrobial stewardship, surveillance, and improved hygiene infrastructure, while the UK government recognises AMR as a major threat and is committed to tackling its spread.