The top medical body, the Indian Council of Medical Research, or ICMR, has recommended restricting the sale of newly launched antibiotics only at certain hospital pharmacies to combat rising antibiotic resistance – a major global health threat.
The action comes after findings from ICMR’s annual report, which shows increased resistance to critical drugs for common infections like pneumonia and typhoid.
Antibiotic resistance is the natural ability of bacteria to resist the effects of medicines, making them difficult or impossible to treat, causing severe illness and death, and making modern medical procedures like surgery and chemotherapy extremely risky.
According to news reports, the recommendations by the ICMR scientists have been submitted to the health ministry and the Drug Controller General of India after consultations. Also, researchers associated with the ICMR, along with the antimicrobial resistance division, have said that while the introduction of new antimicrobials does offer hope, patterns suggest that resistance would develop rapidly.
Many die in India due to AMR yearly
According to global analysis, India registered around a million deaths in 2019 due to bacterial antimicrobial resistance due to misuse and over-the-counter sales of antibiotics. Experts say that in the last ten years, all newly introduced antimicrobials failed to show any kind of effectiveness against multidrug-resistant gram-negative pathogens, which are otherwise difficult to treat and are major contributors to AMR. And so, there is a need for other options on an urgent basis.
What causes AMR?
Doctors say bacteria become naturally resistant to medications over time, but there are certain factors that speed up the process, which include:
- Taking antibiotics when you do not need them, such as for sore throats, which are usually caused by viruses.
- Bacteria take advantage of any opportunity to multiply, and so, if you miss even one dose, bacteria start reproducing and mutating.
- Many times, the genetic makeup of a bacterium changes or mutates on its own, lowering the medicine’s effects.
Who is most at risk for antibiotic resistance?
Doctors say antibiotic-resistant infections can affect anyone, but there are certain groups more at risk due to their health status or living environment, which include:
- Babies – especially those who are born early
- Adults over the age of 65 years
- Those who are homeless and live in crowded conditions
- Those who have compromised immune systems
- Those who take antibiotics for the long term
Which are the most antibiotic-resistant bacteria?
A few bacteria that are associated with the most deaths from antibiotic-resistant infections globally include:
- Escherichia coli, or E.coli
- Staphylococcus aureus or S. aureus
- Klebsiella pneumoniae or K. pneumoniae
- Streptococcus pneumonia or S. pneumoniae
- Acinetobacter baumannii or A. baumannii
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa or P. aeruginosa
How can you combat antibiotic resistance?
Doctors say apart from healthcare professionals and the government, a common person can also take care of themselves by:
Practicing hygiene
You must protect yourself from any kind of bacterial infection so that there is no need for antibiotics.
Only take antibiotics when needed
Antibiotics do not work against viral or fungal infections, despite the fact that they may have symptoms similar to bacterial infections.
Get vaccinated
Your healthcare provider may recommend a few vaccines for protection from bacterial infection. At present, there aren’t too many, with the exception of the pneumococcal vaccine, which protects against pneumococcal disease.