Malnourishment in children under 5 years old can spike antibiotic resistance

Children under the age of five with severe malnourishment could be at significant risk of developing antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, according to an alarming study.

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Globally, 45 million children under the age of five are estimated to be severely malnourished. These children are also at a higher risk of developing life-threatening infections such as tuberculosis or sepsis due to their weakened immune systems.

The new study led by researchers at the Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research (IOI) has found that antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are spreading rapidly among children being treated for severe malnutrition in a hospital facility in Niger.

The findings showed that 76 per cent of children carried bacteria with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase genes, which can break down many commonly used antibiotics.