Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is rapidly becoming one of the most serious threats to global health. In Ukraine, rising bacterial resistance to antibiotics was already being recorded before 2022, and the full-scale war has only intensified this trend, according to a article by the Humanitarian Media Hub citing the World Health Organization (WHO).
Injuries requiring prolonged treatment, chaotic use of antibiotics due to limited access to medical resources, and disrupted logistics all contribute to the emergence of resistant bacterial strains.
“Medical evacuation from frontline areas and the displacement of refugees may facilitate the cross-border spread of these resistant strains, turning a local issue into a regional and eventually global one,” the Humanitarian Media Hub report states.
The study emphasizes that AMR is more than a medical statistic. It affects healthcare systems, economies, and security. At risk are not only patients undergoing treatment but also medical professionals facing a shrinking arsenal of effective drugs. The spread of resistant bacteria in the region could complicate infection treatment even in countries not directly involved in the conflict.
