Antimicrobial resistance: a silent threat we must confront

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health crisis driven by the inappropriate use of antibiotics. In the EU, more than 35,000 people die each year from multidrug-resistant infections, at an estimated annual cost of €11.7 billion.

The “One Health” approach recognizes that resistance spreads across human medicine, veterinary medicine, and the environment. The EARS-Net network is the primary AMR surveillance system, monitoring key pathogens.

The European targets for 2030 include reducing total antibiotic consumption by 20% and ensuring that at least 65% falls within the AWaRe “Access” group. Spain, with a less favorable baseline situation, has been assigned one of the most demanding reduction target in the EU: 27%.

The most alarming data for primary care pediatrics are the 58.8% increase in bacteremias caused by E. coli resistant to third-generation cephalosporins (with a direct impact on the management of UTIs) and the rise in macrolide-resistant S. pneumoniae across the EU.

PRAN 2025–2027 establishes specific measures for primary care pediatrics: implementation of rapid diagnostic tests, PROA certification, promoting deferred prescribing, and updating the Spanish National Health System’s Antimicrobial Therapeutic Guidelines.

Primary care pediatrician is a key player in the fight against AMR: prioritizing “Access” antibiotics, systematizing the use of RDTs, participating in PROA teams, and provide health education are the actions with the greatest impact.