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Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are particularly harmful to children
Around the world, the fear of so-called antibiotic-resistant bacteria is growing. Researchers have now found that such dangerous bacterial strains are often even more threatening to children than adults. And according to the experts, these dangerous bacteria are becoming more common.
Researchers at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine found that while certain antibiotic-resistant bacteria are already a major threat to adults, the risk to children is much greater. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society".
Children are particularly susceptible to certain types of so-called antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. (Image: Daniel Jędzura / fotolia.com) Antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains are becoming more common
Surely we are all scared of getting infected with a strain of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Especially in recent years, the threat of such bacterial strains has continued to grow. Physicians warn long before the negative effects, if bacteria can no longer be treated by the current drugs.
Physicians examine cases of enterobacteria in children's hospitals
There seem to be some of these antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are especially dangerous for children. And the worst of it is that such bacteria are becoming more common, say the experts from the US. This was determined by the doctors in their current investigation, which has evaluated the records of 48 children's hospitals. The physicians specifically looked for cases of infection by a family of bacteria, which are referred to as enterobacteria or Enterobacteriaceae.
What is Gammaproteobacteria??
These bacteria belong to the genus of the so-called Gammaproteobacteria. Many such bacteria are typical inhabitants of our intestines. However, there are also some bacteria of this class, which do not live in the human intestine, but still belong to the family of bacteria, explain the experts.
Researchers are studying data from 94,000 infected children
The study of 94,000 bacteria-infected children made it clear that the rates of drug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infections gradually increased between 2007 and 2015, the researchers explain. The children were all younger than 18 years at this time. The infections were each associated with a longer hospital stay, the doctors continue to report.
Most of the cases found did not occur in hospitals
Unlike in the past, the majority of reported cases occurred outside of hospitals. This is particularly bad because it suggests that the so-called super-pathogens already seem to be firmly rooted in our community, the researchers say.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to treat infections in children
Increasing antibiotic resistance is increasingly threatening our ability to effectively treat childhood infections, said study author Professor Sharon B. Meropol of the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
The handling of antibiotics has to be changed
It is imperative that we use all our efforts to stop or better control this dangerous trend. So antibiotics should really be used only in case of an urgent need, say the experts. In addition, the use of antibiotics in healthy farmed animals should be avoided.
Enterobacteriaceae learn quickly and adapt
Children are particularly vulnerable to antibiotic-resistant infections because of their potentially weaker immune system and generally less powerful medications. Resistant Enterobacteriaceae are a particularly dangerous type of so-called super-pathogens. The reason is that these bacteria learn very fast. They succeed in fending off almost every available drug, explain the scientists.
Increase of 700 percent within a few years
The rate of multi-resistant infections jumped from 0.2 percent of all Enterobacteriaceae infections in 2007 to 1.5 percent in 2015. This is an increase of 700 percent, emphasize the physicians.
Resistant infections require an average of 20 percent longer hospital stays
If there was a resistant infection at hospital stays, they lasted an average of 20 percent longer. The difference in mortality was not statistically significant, yet such resistant infections seem to be a bit more lethal, say the authors.
Children from the western half of the US are at particular risk
Older children with other health problems and children in the western half of the US generally appear to have a higher risk for such resistant infections, researchers say. Three-quarters of the cases were probably not from hospitals, the doctors add.
Rise of antibiotic-resistant infections is inevitable for a long time
The current study is just the latest study that has found more frequent antibiotic-resistant infections in children. Although there have been modest successes in treatment, the increase in antibiotic-resistant infections remains unavoidable for a long time, the authors explain. (As)