Overused, overprescribed: Antibiotics ineffective among ‘sizeable’ population
NEW DELHI : Antibiotics routinely prescribed to treat common ailments no longer work as bacteria have developed resistance to these drugs due to their overuse in India, a government body said, echoing concerns long voiced by international experts. In a report, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) mentioned about third-generation cephalosporins, imidazoles, amino-glycosides, ceftriaxone, metronidazole, amikacin and piperacillin, which are used to treat cold, fever, skin diseases and urinary tract infection. Companies that make these antibiotics in India include Alkem Laboratories Ltd, Mankind Pharma Ltd, Zuventus Healthcare Ltd, Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Surya Pharmaceutical Ltd, Aristo Pharmaceuticals Pvt.
Ltd, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and Pfizer India Ltd. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when germs no longer respond to drugs, a rising concern among physicians, scientists and policymakers worldwide. The World Health Organization recognizes AMR as one of the top 10 global public health threats, saying bacterial AMR killed 1.27 million globally in 2019.
Antimicrobials include a variety of drugs used to prevent and treat infections. Emails sent to drugmakers as well as the health ministry seeking comments remained unanswered. Apart from overuse during the covid-19 outbreak, the emergence of fixed drug compositions, self-medication and easy availability have aided AMR, experts said.
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