‘Use of antibiotics leading to threats to human health’
Experts discuss how resistance is developed after excessive use of antibiotics
Programs that restricted a doctor's ability to prescribe antibiotics were 32 percent more effective in the first month than those that tried to persuade and educate. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
The use of antibiotics is the single most important factor leading to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), which is a threat to human health and will kill 300 million people across the world by 2050.
Health experts revealed this at a press briefing organised to observe World Antibiotic Awareness Week at the Karachi Press Club Tuesday afternoon.
According to them, the misuse of antibiotics has led to resistance being developed in humans around the world.
"Antibiotics are among the most commonly prescribed drugs used as medicine and can be lifesaving drugs," maintained infectious diseases consultant at Liaquat National Hospital, Dr Iffat Khanum. "However, up to 50% of the times, antibiotics are often [prescribed] when not needed."
According to the head of microbiology at Liaquat National Hospital, Dr Sana Anwar, there is a wrong perception that antibiotics can cure viruses. She warned that using antibiotics on children during a seasonal fever have no effects since most of the times it is a viral infection.
She added that an estimated 700,000 deaths occur each year worldwide due to AMR and said that antibiotic use by humans has increased by 36% in a last few decades.
The head of the department of infectious diseases at Aga Khan University Hospital, Dr Bushra Jamil, said that in Pakistan, 88.9% rate of unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions are for self-limiting upper respiratory tract infections. When antibiotics fail to work, the consequences are longer-lasting illnesses, more visits to the doctor or extended hospital stays and the need for more expensive and toxic antibiotics. These resistant infections can cause death, she added.
She advised that antibiotics must only be used when prescribed by a certified health professional and the duration must be adhered to. She added that antibiotics must not be shared with others and leftover antibiotics should not be used at all.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2016.
The use of antibiotics is the single most important factor leading to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), which is a threat to human health and will kill 300 million people across the world by 2050.
Health experts revealed this at a press briefing organised to observe World Antibiotic Awareness Week at the Karachi Press Club Tuesday afternoon.
According to them, the misuse of antibiotics has led to resistance being developed in humans around the world.
"Antibiotics are among the most commonly prescribed drugs used as medicine and can be lifesaving drugs," maintained infectious diseases consultant at Liaquat National Hospital, Dr Iffat Khanum. "However, up to 50% of the times, antibiotics are often [prescribed] when not needed."
According to the head of microbiology at Liaquat National Hospital, Dr Sana Anwar, there is a wrong perception that antibiotics can cure viruses. She warned that using antibiotics on children during a seasonal fever have no effects since most of the times it is a viral infection.
She added that an estimated 700,000 deaths occur each year worldwide due to AMR and said that antibiotic use by humans has increased by 36% in a last few decades.
The head of the department of infectious diseases at Aga Khan University Hospital, Dr Bushra Jamil, said that in Pakistan, 88.9% rate of unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions are for self-limiting upper respiratory tract infections. When antibiotics fail to work, the consequences are longer-lasting illnesses, more visits to the doctor or extended hospital stays and the need for more expensive and toxic antibiotics. These resistant infections can cause death, she added.
She advised that antibiotics must only be used when prescribed by a certified health professional and the duration must be adhered to. She added that antibiotics must not be shared with others and leftover antibiotics should not be used at all.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2016.