World Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases declaration on combating antimicrobial resistance in children

Excerpt

The rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognised as a major threat to global health. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) do not explicitly address AMR, but many of the targets within the goals depend on effective therapy for infectious diseases. Notably, these include targets 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, and 3.8, relating to the reduction of early life mortality, eradicating ongoing epidemics including AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and achieving universal health coverage, as well as targets relating to poverty, malnourishment, and education [1]. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognised the outstanding importance of AMR by passing a Global Action Plan in 2015 and declaring AMR a global priority [2]. However, the WHO Global Action Plan on AMR mentions children only twice and to date includes no specific objectives or action points focusing on child health. …