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.

Ukrainian soldiers with severe blast wounds are at high risk of infections that resist antibiotics, leaving doctors with few treatment options and sometimes forcing them to amputate more of an injured limb. Australian clinical pharmacologist Hailie Uren is helping Ukrainian medical teams improve care, using approaches developed for victims of biological attacks.

Mine and drone blasts drive dirt and bacteria deep into damaged tissue, while delays in evacuation can leave wounded soldiers without hospital care for days or weeks. Serious wound infections affect 30% to 40% of wounded soldiers, and patients may carry several resistant bacteria; some remain in hospital for more than a year. The article says early antibiotic decisions and inconsistent prescribing can contribute to the problem, while infected patients may also spread resistant bacteria between hospitals and across borders.