Contributed by Siddarth David & Dr. Tamhankar
A study published in the published in the Journal of the
Paediatric Infectious Diseases Society has shown rising rate of infections, particularly
prevalent among children between under the age of 5. After analysing a
nationwide data base of reports from microbiology laboratories from
1991-2011, the study showed the increase of prevalence of "extended-spectrum
beta-lactamase" (ESBL) producing bacteria and resistance to third-generation
cephalosporins was highest among children under 5 years.
This means treatment with last-resort antibiotics such as
carbapenems translating to longer hospital stays, higher health care costs, and
increased mortality. The Centres for Disease Control (CDC) in the US, had
called for stronger steps to counter ESBL-producing bacteria in 2013, given the
significant threat they pose to public health in the US. The study also calls for more
research into defining the risk factors for these infections in children, their
prevalence in different settings, and their molecular epidemiology.
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