Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a “silent pandemic”, commentators argue, as experts argue for a harmonised approach to mitigate the damage. The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed substantially to the AMR crisis, with the prescription of antibiotics for the treatment of those affected by COVID-19 contributing to an increase in AMR cases. This is a […]
antibiotic resistance
COVID-19 fuelling antibiotic resistance
India has long dealt with the encroaching danger of antibiotic resistance. Has the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this situation? Reports indicate the answer is yes. India’s second wave of COVID-19 came at a far faster pace than the initial rise in cases in the country. As such, health systems across the country were overwhelmed – many […]
Diphtheria threat increasing as infection evolves antimicrobial resistance
Diphtheria’s threat is increasing as the easily-preventable infection, usually treated with antibiotics and vaccines, is evolving with antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) strains, posing a risk that the disease may once again become a major global challenge. This is according to an international team of researchers from the UK and India. They conducted the study using genomics to […]
Antimicrobial Awareness Week begins: What it means for India
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most pressing public health issues of our time. With today marking the commencement of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, it is worthwhile examining what antimicrobial resistance is and what it means for India. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines antimicrobial resistance as “when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites resist the […]
Antibiotics abuse: India among the worst
Global consumption of antibiotics increased by forty percent between 2000 and 2015, according to a study by researchers at the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. The relative consumption of “Watch” antibiotics was found to be highest in Japan, at an alarming 83 percent. India followed in as […]
India joins global antimicrobial resistance group
India is the latest country to join a global coalition aiming to combat antimicrobial resistance. Among current members are sixteen countries, the European Commission, two philanthropic foundations and four international organisations (as observers). With India as a member, the research hub now represents more than half the world’s population. India is among the countries most […]
Colistin ban in food sector over drug resistance concerns
India’s food production sector has been banned from using the antibiotic colistin, over concerns about its misuse potentially fuelling drug resistance. According to a 2009 study, “colistin is…being used increasingly as a ‘last-line’ therapy to treat infections caused by [multi-drug-resistant] Gram-negative bacteria, when essentially no other options are available.” Yet concerns are growing that, in […]
Antibiotic resistance: Public awareness campaigns might not work
By Marco Haenssgen, University of Warwick Pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa, are becoming ever more resistant to drugs. People speed up this natural process by over-using antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs in medicine and agriculture, and by leaking them into the environment. The World Health Organisation (WHO) regards antimicrobial resistance as one of […]
Poultry farms breeding an antibiotic resistance crisis
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats facing Indian public health – and poultry farms are serving as a breeding ground for the crisis. “This news is not altogether surprising, though this does not make it any less concerning. Research has uncovered numerous instances of poultry farms breeding antibiotic resistance” A recent study of […]
What else we’re reading: Antibiotics: why asking doctors to prescribe fewer is futile
By Andrew M Colman, University of Leicester This article was originally published by The Conversation ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ An 85-year-old woman with dementia is admitted to hospital with worsening confusion, new urinary incontinence and constipation. These symptoms suggest a urinary tract infection, but the doctor treating her has a dilemma because the symptoms also suggest her dementia […]