In Ukraine, hospitals are grappling with a concerning rise in the spread of drug-resistant infections, which has been exacerbated by the ongoing war with Russia, according to a new report. The study conducted by the Center for Public Health of Ukraine (UPHC) highlights the urgent crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within the country's healthcare systems and calls for immediate attention.

During the months of November and December 2022, researchers from UPHC surveyed three regional hospitals and found that out of the 353 patients surveyed, 14 percent had acquired infections while in the hospital. What is particularly alarming is that among these infected patients, a high rate of AMR was identified, with 60 percent exhibiting infections caused by organisms resistant to carbapenem, a powerful class of antibiotics used to treat severe bacterial infections.

Comparing these rates to a 2016/17 European Union-wide survey, which included over 300,000 acute care hospital patients and 100,000 long-term care facility residents, the situation in Ukraine is significantly worse. The previous survey reported that 5.5 percent of patients had acquired infections during their hospital stay, with 6.2 percent of these infections showing resistance to carbapenem.

The report emphasizes the need for the UPHC, with support from international partners, to develop locally-led and implemented measures to address the growing issue of AMR in Ukraine. The researchers stress the urgency of capacity building in order to prevent, detect, and respond to antimicrobial resistance, as it has the potential to save lives within the country and limit the international spread of drug-resistant infections.

The research, carried out in collaboration with the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other entities, underscores the role of war in fueling antimicrobial resistance. As a result of the ongoing conflict, hygiene levels, including crucial practices such as hand washing, have deteriorated, and the availability of antibiotic susceptibility testing has become inconsistent.

In Ukraine, where high pre-war rates of antimicrobial resistance already existed, an increase in traumatic wounds and the strain on healthcare facilities due to the war have led to the detection of multidrug-resistant organisms, which are now spreading into Europe. Bacterial antimicrobial resistance is a pressing global public health threat and is estimated to cause more deaths than HIV or malaria.

AMR is a top concern in global public health. It arises when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites undergo mutations and no longer respond to medications designed to combat them. According to the WHO, bacterial AMR was responsible for 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019 and contributed to a further 4.95 million deaths.

In the face of this grim reality, it is crucial to educate oneself and family members about global health security measures to minimize the risk of acquiring and spreading drug-resistant infections.