Monitoring and managing antibiotic resistance in refugee children

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Middle East and Southeastern Europe have seen large refugee movements due to conflicts.
• Data on multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial carriage and infections, including MDR-tuberculosis (TB), in refugee children are limited.
• High MDR carriage rates in refugee children are linked to pre-war resistance, damaged infrastructure, and poor hygiene.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review available data on MDR bacterial carriage and infections in refugee children since 2010.
• To assess the prevalence and implications of MDR-tuberculosis (TB) in this population.
• To provide expert commentary and recommendations for screening and management.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on pediatric data from 2010 onwards.
• Analysis of factors contributing to high MDR carriage rates.
• Evaluation of current TB screening practices in refugees.

Main Results:

• High rates of MDR bacterial carriage and infections observed in refugee children.
• Significant lack of international guidelines for MDR screening in this demographic.
• Limited data on MDR-TB prevalence in refugee children, despite high endemicity in their countries of origin.

Conclusions:

• Routine screening and contact isolation for refugees upon hospitalization are recommended due to the medical importance of MDRs.
• Standardized TB screening methods and target populations for refugees are needed.
• Integrated strategies including rapid diagnostics, improved healthcare access, cross-border collaboration, and protection during treatment are crucial for TB control.