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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is spreading rapidly, fueled by a combination of factors that include overuse and misuse of antibiotics, insufficient infection control measures, and the high prevalence of infections in healthcare settings.
According to a report of BBC on Wednesday, as bacteria evolve to resist common treatments, AMR has become a major global health threat, making previously treatable infections more difficult to manage.
When Private Oleksander Bezverkhny was evacuated to Feofaniya Hospital in Kyiv, few believed he would survive. The 27-year-old had sustained severe abdominal injuries, with shrapnel tearing through his buttocks. Both of his legs had to be amputated.
Then, doctors discovered that his infections were resistant to commonly-used antibiotics. This new challenge made the already daunting task of saving his life seem almost hopeless.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria evolve and develop the ability to defend themselves against antibiotics and other medications, making these treatments ineffective.
Ukraine is far from the only country affected by this issue. Globally, around 1.4 million people died from AMR infections in 2021. In the UK, there were 66,730 serious antibiotic-resistant infections in 2023. However, the war in Ukraine seems to have accelerated the spread of multi-resistant pathogens, which are now prevalent in the country.
