Antibiotic-resistant bacteria increasingly leaving children vulnerable to common infections, global study finds
Exclusive: Research spanning 82 countries finds antibiotic resistance increased in every region between 2004 and 2022 Harry Booth has had a rough run through Australia’s coldest months. The 13-year-old has been in and out of hospital with a range of common...
A global study has found antibiotic resistance is rising across every region, leaving more children exposed to infections that were once far easier to treat.
According to The Guardian World, the research covered 82 countries and tracked trends from 2004 to 2022. It found that resistance increased in all regions during that period, adding to concerns that common illnesses are becoming harder to manage, especially for children with underlying health conditions.
The report highlights the case of Harry Booth, a 13-year-old in Australia who has spent much of the colder months in and out of hospital with chest and urinary tract infections that doctors have struggled to treat. Harry was born with kidney failure, started dialysis at six months old, and later received a kidney transplant from his father when he was four. While the transplant saved his life, it also left him on immune-suppressing medication to stop his body rejecting the new kidney, making him more vulnerable to infection.
The findings point to a growing challenge for pediatric care worldwide, where resistant bacteria can complicate routine treatment and prolong illness. For children with weakened immune systems or chronic medical needs, infections that might otherwise be manageable can become more severe and harder to clear.
The report is based on a monitored public feed and reflects the details made available in that summary. Source attribution: The Guardian World.
Source: The Guardian World - https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jul/21/antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-increasingly-leaving-children-vulnerable-to-common-infections-global-study-finds
