Private Oleksander Bezverkhny’s survival is nothing short of a medical miracle. The 27-year-old soldier, gravely injured during the war in Ukraine, suffered severe abdominal wounds, shrapnel injuries, and the loss of both legs. However, his battle didn’t end there; he faced life-threatening antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections that rendered conventional antibiotics ineffective.
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria evolve to resist antibiotics, a global issue claiming 1.4 million lives annually, with 66,730 severe cases recorded in the UK in 2023 alone. In Ukraine, the war has exacerbated this crisis, with AMR infections surging in hospitals treating injured soldiers. At Feofaniya Hospital in Kyiv, over 80% of patients suffer from antibiotic-resistant infections, according to deputy chief physician Dr. Andriy Strokan.
Ironically, many AMR infections originate in medical facilities. Despite strict hygiene protocols, overwhelmed clinics struggle to control infection spread due to understaffing and the sheer volume of patients. The Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro, for instance, has tripled its ICU capacity since the Russian invasion, while staffing levels remain critically low.
The nature of wartime medical care further complicates matters. Soldiers often pass through multiple facilities, each with its own strains of AMR bacteria, before reaching specialized hospitals. This was the case for Pte Bezverkhny, who contracted sepsis five times due to his resistant infections.
Unlike previous conflicts like the Afghanistan War, where soldiers were quickly evacuated to advanced facilities abroad, Ukraine’s strained healthcare system cannot replicate such measures. The influx of casualties, the largest since World War II, forces hospitals to prioritize patient stabilization and capacity over strict isolation measures, inadvertently spreading AMR infections.
Treating these infections requires expensive reserve antibiotics, but frequent use accelerates bacterial adaptation, rendering these critical drugs ineffective. “We must balance saving lives with preventing the rise of more resistant microorganisms,” Dr. Strokan explains.
Pte Bezverkhny’s case highlights the challenges. After over 100 surgeries and a year in the hospital, doctors saved his life using costly antibiotics sourced by volunteers. However, as drug resistance grows, the ability to save future patients becomes increasingly precarious.
source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20k5wrgz13o