Life-saving antibiotics for severe infections in babies and children are often out of reach due to a lack of data on safety and dosage, according to new research.
Two comprehensive reviews led by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and the Australasian KIDS DOSE consortium examined barriers faced by children in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands when seeking treatment for antimicrobial resistant (AMR) infections. These infections are among those considered most urgent by the World Health Organization.
The studies, published in The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific, revealed that out of 12 antibiotics recommended for serious bloodstream infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, only six are licensed for use in children under 12 years old. For infants, only three antibiotics have approval. The research also found that standard antibiotic doses are frequently too low for this age group.
Globally, AMR leads to approximately 1.27 million deaths each year, including about 250,000 children under five. In Australia specifically, one in five childhood infections from Gram-negative bacteria is resistant to antibiotics. Rates of infection are higher among First Nations children.
Associate Professor Amanda Gwee emphasized the need for more research to address equity and access gaps affecting children's treatment options.
"The KIDS DOSE network is building evidence to ensure children, the most vulnerable to serious infections, receive safe, effective antibiotic doses while supporting low resource countries to better detect and monitor AMR in their communities," she said.
She added that it has been difficult to get a complete understanding of antimicrobial resistance but said the findings help clarify ongoing research needs.
"The increase in AMR is making common infections untreatable, increasing severe illness, disability and death, and undermining modern medicine that relies on effective antimicrobials," Associate Professor Gwee stated.
"To confront the challenge, we need coordinated action that improves AMR surveillance systems, supports more clinical trials involving children, removes licensing restrictions and upgrades laboratory infrastructure and technical expertise."
According to Associate Professor Gwee, the KIDS DOSE Consortium plans to address these issues by testing how newer antibiotics work against bloodstream, bone and urinary tract infections in children with an aim toward faster access to more effective treatments.
