Drug-resistant pathogens prevalent across ICDDR,B, posing a considerable risk to newborns.
In a recent study, it has been revealed that more than 80% of infants in Bangladesh had received at least one course of antibiotics by their first birthday. This concerning statistic was one of the findings presented by the ARCH team, a collaboration between the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) and the University of Liverpool.
The study, which focused on the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Bangladesh, received support from the World Health Organization (WHO). The findings have sparked concern among health professionals, with Dr Tahmeed Ahmed calling for restrictions on the sale of stronger antibiotics to limit misuse and contain the epidemic of antimicrobial resistance.
Babies who stayed in hospital for more than 72 hours after delivery showed the highest burden of colonisation, with around 40% of infants being colonised with CRE (Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae) and nearly 90% with EScrE (Extended-spectrum CTX-M-producing ESBL-producing E. coli) within their first year of life.
In adult Intensive Care Units (ICUs), 60% of patients carried CRE, a worryingly high figure that underscores the urgency of the situation. The study also found that in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), 81% of babies were colonised with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-Kpn), with 70% acquiring it after 48 hours in hospital.
The study, however, also provided a glimmer of hope. ARCH demonstrated that infection prevention and control (IPC) interventions can reduce colonisation with resistant organisms and lower bloodstream infection rates in NICUs.
Brian Wheeler, the Director of the Wellcome Trust, praised the work done by icddr,b and the ARCH team and emphasized the need for multifaceted solutions to the global problem of antimicrobial resistance. Prof Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, the Director of icddr,b, expressed similar concerns over the findings of the study and emphasized the need to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
The study serves as a call to action, highlighting the urgent need for improved antibiotic stewardship and infection control measures in Bangladesh and beyond. As the battle against antimicrobial resistance continues, the findings of studies like this one will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping future strategies and policies.
