A new study finds that the rising infections that has been caused by a type of bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics is allegedly causing longer hospitalizations and may mean a higher risk of death for children in the United States. That being said, the researchers have recently found a 700 percent surge in terms of infections caused by the said type of bacteria suggesting that these infections are rapidly spreading more often in the community. Dubbed as Enterobacteriaceae, experts say that this bacteria has been the reason for the emergence of certain antibiotic resistant infections that also include such pathogens as Salmonella and Escherichia coli.
Debunking Enterobacteriaceae
In one of her statements reported by The Washington Post, study lead author, Sharon Meropol, who also happens to be an assistant professor of pediatrics, epidemiology and biostatistics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine has revealed that antibiotic resistance increasingly threatens their ability to treat our children's infections. Meropol continues to explain that there is a clear and alarming upswing throughout US of antibiotic resistant Enterobacteriaceae infections in kids and teenagers. In conducting the study, the researchers have also found that children with Enterobacteriaceae infections had 20 percent longer hospital stays than pediatric patients with more treatable infections.
Furthermore, according to reports revealed by Times Of India, researchers have claimed that bacterial infections that are said to be resistant to multiple drugs are especially concerning in children, for whom there are a limited number of stronger antibiotics currently approved for use compared to adults, which puts a number of kids at a higher risk for worse outcomes. Hence, Meropol said that health care providers must see to it that they only prescribe antibiotics when they're really needed. Additionally, previous research on antibiotic-resistant infections showed that factors such as young age, gender, certain medical conditions and even geography can increase a child's risk.
The Rise Of Antibiotic-Resistant Infections
Meanwhile, it was found that although weak or underdeveloped immune systems partly explain younger children's vulnerability, researchers have revealed that the association between resistant infections and older ages is more difficult to explain. As of the press time,the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has highly emphasized that antibiotics' use for agricultural purposes, such as treating diseases in food-producing animals, and the danger that the surviving bacteria in farm settings develop resistance, multiply and spread. Ultimately, experts suggest that paying attention to our environment, water and soil is very important when addressing antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
