JOIN USDoctors, scientists and medical researchers have for long expressed concern over the declining efficiency of antibiotic drugs to treat infections as the microbes that cause them develop immunity to the drugs. The concern has turned into alarm with the discovery in a woman in the US of an infection that is resistant to one the world’s last resort anti-bacterial drugs. The bacteria with a gene that gives it the ability to resist drugs was first identified in China. The gene will give the bacteria the ability to spread drug resistance to other bacteria and human beings. That will lead to a situation where no drug will be effective against many ailments. A recent study has found that over 7,00,000
people die every year from drug resistant infections. This may rise to over 10 million by 2050. It can also impose an economic cost of $ 100 trillion on the world by then.
Bacteria develop resistance to drugs as part of the evolutionary process. But the process is helped and quickened with the indiscriminate and faulty use of antibiotic drugs. Doctors often prescribe drugs even when there is no need for them. Apart from unnecessary use, indiscriminate and excessive use and stoppage of drugs halfway through its prescribed course also create resistance to drugs in the bacteria. Antibacterial drugs are given to animals to spur their growth. This creates resistance in bacteria which are then transferred to human bodies through the food chain. If the present trend of growth and spread of antibiotic resistance continues, scary scenarios will have to be contended with. Surgeries and organ transplants might become dangerous and even minor ailments can turn fatal. Many diseases and ailments which are considered to be under control will return with a vengeance, and many think the world will enter a pre-antibiotic age.
The threat has to be tackled by go-vernments, drug companies, resea-rchers, doctors, patients and others who have an interest and stake in public health. Some countries have banned giving of antibiotics to farm animals. Others should also do so. There should be more scientific research to develop more effective antibiotics. Drug companies are reluctant to do this because the profits are not very high. There are proposals to incentivise them and they should be considered. Governments can promote and fund more research in public interest. Most importantly, people should be made aware of the need to avoid the use of antibiotics as much as possible, and of their right use. Doctors should minimise the prescription of antibiotics. The threat should be taken seriously.