**War-Related Infections on the Rise in Ukraine**
A 27-year-old Ukrainian soldier, Oleksander Bezverkhny, was evacuated to a hospital in Kyiv with severe injuries. Doctors were shocked when they discovered that his infections were resistant to commonly-used antibiotics.
**The Problem of AMR**
This is not an isolated case. Around 1.4 million people died from antibiotic-resistant infections worldwide in 2021. In the UK, there were over 66,000 serious cases in 2023.
In Ukraine, clinics treating war injuries have seen a sharp increase in antibiotic-resistant cases. At Feofaniya Hospital, more than 80% of patients have infections caused by microbes that are resistant to antibiotics.
**How War Fuels AMR**
War conditions make it harder for medical staff to follow hygiene protocols and prevent the spread of infections. Hospitals are overwhelmed with injured people, leading to understaffing and a higher risk of infection.
Dr Volodymyr Dubyna, head of the Mechnikov Hospital’s ICU, says that since the start of the war, his unit has increased from 16 to 50 beds. Staff levels have dropped as employees flee or join the military.
**The Spread of AMR Bacteria**
In this situation, patients are exposed to multiple strains of infection as they pass through different facilities. Medical professionals say this is unavoidable due to the scale of the war, but it only worsens the spread of AMR infections.
Pte Bezverkhny was treated at three different facilities before reaching the hospital in Kyiv, where his condition deteriorated and he contracted sepsis five times.
**A Growing Problem**
Ukrainian hospitals often cannot isolate infected patients, allowing multi-resistant bacteria to spread unchecked. This means that infections caused by these bacteria must be treated with special antibiotics from a “reserve” list.
However, the more doctors use these antibiotics, the quicker the bacteria adapt and become resistant, making treatment harder.
**A Balancing Act**
Doctors are forced to balance saving patients with not breeding new microorganisms that will develop antibiotic resistance. In Pte Bezverkhny’s case, expensive antibiotics sourced from abroad helped save his life after a year in hospital and over 100 operations.
As pathogens grow more resistant, the struggle to save others only gets harder.
