Antimicrobial resistance – A crisis for children everywhere

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global health threat, causing 5 million deaths annually, more than the combined deaths from HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. AMR occurs when microbes become resistant to medicines, making infections harder to treat. Children, particularly those under five, face particularly worrying risks due to immature immune systems and behaviors like crawling and play. In 2019, nearly a quarter of global deaths were attributed to bacterial resistant-infections, with 99% of deaths in low- and middle-income countries. The UK must not be complacent, as AMR can quickly spread globally. The interconnected nature of health necessitates cooperation to protect global health security. The UK must commit to representing children as a distinct group in the refreshed UK AMR National Action Plan and champion children in implementing global commitments made at the 2024 High-Level Meeting on AMR. Without this support, children will continue to be forgotten and suffer from resistant infections.