Antibiotic resistance is the ability of a microorganism to withstand the effects of an antibiotic. A recent WHO report made a clear case that resistance of common bacteria to antibiotics has reached alarming levels in many parts of the world.
Causes for increasing antibiotic resistance:
- Indiscriminate use of antibiotics – self prescription, over the counter purchase.
- Not taking antibiotics in the prescribed manner— this allows time for the bacteria in our body system to become resistant.
- Too frequent use of broad spectrum antibiotics
- Poor sanitation conditions aided spread and small health- care budgets prevented access to new effective but more expensive
- Increasing use of antibiotics in livestock and agriculture.
Matter of global concern:
- Increases the cost of health care
- Present in every country and there is high rise in antibiotic resistance against malaria, TB, HIV and influenza.
- Endangers achievement of the health targets of Sustainable Development Goals.
- Without effective antimicrobials for treatment of infections, medical procedures such as organ transplantation, major surgery becomes very high risk.
Measures to check: (Mention Chennai Declaration)
- Optimal use of antibiotics in both humans and animals
- Use of antibiotics only as a last resort
- Reducing gaps in surveillance of antibiotic resistance
- Setting up systems to monitor antibiotic resistance and to implement efficient actions,
- Public awareness campaigns in order to induce behavioral change in use of antibiotics
- Prudent use of available antibiotics and, when possible, infection prevention through appropriate vaccination.
- Hygienic precautions for the control of cross transmission of resistant strains
- Development of antibiotics with a novel mechanism of action.
The role of antibiotics in the treatment of infectious diseases is essential but indiscriminate usage poses the threat of entering the post antibiotic era. By improving antibiotic use and decreasing resistance gene frequency at the local levels, we can move towards reversing the resistance problem globally.
