{
  "id": 19097295,
  "title": "Drug-resistant infections put wounded Ukrainian soldiers at risk of amputation. Doctors are trying to help by treating them like victims of a biological attack.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/drug-resistant-infections-put-wounded-ukrainian-soldiers-at-risk-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-09T04:56:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Meduza (English)",
    "slug": "meduza-english",
    "url": "https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/11/09/drug-resistant-infections-put-wounded-ukrainian-soldiers-at-risk-of-amputation-doctors-are-trying-to-help-by-treating-them-like-victims-of-a-biological-attack"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Medical teams from Ukraine's 56th Motorized Infantry Brigade frequently treat soldiers wounded in conflict zones with infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. As Marc Santora reported for The New York Times, these bacteria are forcing doctors to amputate limbs at a high rate. Hailie Uren, an Australian clinical pharmacologist working with these soldiers, aims to prevent amputations by ensuring antibiotics are used properly. However, combat injuries often involve mine or drone blasts, which cause far more tissue damage than gunshot wounds and can introduce bacteria deep into wounds. Additionally, due to the nature of evacuations, soldiers may not reach hospitals promptly, allowing bacteria to multiply. With weakened health from blood loss and malnutrition, patients become more vulnerable to these resistant infections. In up to 40% of cases, wounded soldiers develop serious infections, and the bacteria behind these infections can be resistant to many or all antibiotics. Infections may involve multiple types of resistant bacteria, making treatment even more challenging. When amputation becomes necessary due to infection, a greater portion of the limb is often removed compared to non-infected cases. The prolonged stay in hospitals, often exceeding a year, negatively impacts mental health and places strain on healthcare systems. Furthermore, these bacteria can spread within and between hospitals, infecting other patients and healthcare workers. The issue stems from overuse of antibiotics and the practice of defaulting to broad-spectrum drugs. While Ukraine has implemented guidelines to control antibiotic use, the wartime situation makes it difficult to enforce them consistently. Uren found that wounded soldiers often arrive at hospitals already carrying antibiotic-resistant bacteria due to several factors, including flawed prescribing practices among medical staff and inadequate resources at first-aid stabilization points. In her approach, Uren treats these bacteria as if they were a biological weapon, aiming to decontaminate patients rapidly, much like in the case of anthrax exposure. This strategy, she argues, directly influences survival rates.",
  "summary": "In late October, The New York Times published a report on how doctors are helping Ukrainian soldiers fight antibiotic-resistant infections. Correspondent Marc Santora traveled to Dnipro and Poland, spoke with doctors and patients, and joined science reporter Gina Kolata to examine the problem and a potential solution. Here, we summarize their reporting alongside additional details from the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "Ukrainian forces reportedly strike Russia's second-largest oil refinery in overnight drone attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/ukrainian-forces-reportedly-strike-russias-second-largest-oil",
        "published": "2026-11-09T04:05:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}