A CLOSER LOOK AT ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN CHILDREN

Antibiotic resistance is a potential threat to the public wellbeing, especially in children: According to WHO surveys, death toll associated with multidrug resistant organism is 700,000 across all ages, of which around 200,000 are infants. This soaring issue has multidimensional linkages that are specific to the pediatric age group. For example, the indiscriminate abuse and misuse of antibiotics (for nascent diagnoses and indications, or at erroneous dosing) is caused by the lack of evidence based time-tested trials in paediatrics. The dynamic nature of this age group also renders another hazard which is associated with the age-dependent modifications in the drug metabolism system (cytochrome machinery) leading to weight and dose dependent efficacy. The pediatric age group has also been inflicted by the adversities of tetracycline and fluoroquinolones, and by congenital malformations which prompt frequent hospitalization involving invasive and pharmacological interventions from the time of birth. Emerging challenges for the pediatric age are MRSA, VRSA, ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and the devastating colistin resistance. (Super-bugs). Radical measures need to be taken in order to prevent the advent of an era where a simple infection might lead to a life catastrophe.

Keywords: multidrug resistance; antibiotics; micro-organsms; superbugs; antibiotic resistance; childhood; infections; antimicrobial stewardship