Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 19: Antibiotic resistance, a growing global health threat, is now estimated to cause over 1.3 million deaths each year, according to researchers at the University of Turku, Finland. The condition occurs when bacteria develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them, making common infections increasingly difficult — or sometimes impossible — to treat.

A recent study from the university has brought new insight into how antibiotic resistance varies by gender, age, and geography. Researchers analysed gut microbiome data from over 14,600 individuals across 32 countries and discovered that resistance gene loads differ significantly across populations.

In high-income countries, women were found to carry, on average, 9% more antibiotic resistance genes than men. Researchers suggest this could be due to more frequent exposure to antibiotics, contact with resistant bacteria, or a higher likelihood of being carriers.

Conversely, in low- and middle-income nations, men showed higher resistance gene loads, highlighting the influence of lifestyle, healthcare access, and potentially biological factors.

Postdoctoral researcher Katariina Pärnänen explained that these differences become more pronounced in adulthood, indicating that both environmental and healthcare-related factors may shape antibiotic resistance profiles over time.

The study also found resistance gene levels to be notably higher among infants and the elderly. High antibiotic usage correlated with greater gene diversity and load, reinforcing the need for prudent prescribing practices.

The findings are expected to support the development of more targeted strategies to combat antibiotic resistance, with researchers stressing the urgency of addressing this silent but escalating public health crisis.