Overconsumption of antibiotics

For the last decade and a half, antibiotic consumption in the country has grown by 500 million defined daily doses. This is a remarkable surge and catapults the country into the third spot among low and middle income countries with the highest consumption of antibiotics. Only India and China are ahead of Pakistan’s 1.3 billion defined daily doses (DDD) with 6.5 billion DDD and 2.3 billion DDD, respectively. The mapping of antibiotic consumption in 76 countries was made possible through exhaustive research appearing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences last month. Overall consumption of antibiotics has ballooned to 42 billion DDD. By 2030, the projected consumption may well hit an unprecedented figure of 128 billion DDD. Overconsumption has already eroded the efficacy of antibiotics, creating human body resistance at a startling scale. This is triggered of course by wholesale inappropriate use.

To reverse the global trend of antibiotic resistance, Pakistan and other countries would have to change the prescribing and consuming habits of people. A tall order may be given the scale of the consumption surge. Coordinated efforts are desperately needed to improve antimicrobial use internationally.

Experts count antibiotic resistance as among the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development in this day and age. It is becoming increasingly difficult to treat illnesses such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, and salmonellosis with antibiotics owing to their ineffective use.

The World Health Organisation recommends that steps be taken at all levels to reduce the impact and limit the spread of antibiotic resistance. One way to discourage misuse is to ensure that certified health professionals make the antibiotics prescription. People should not insist on consuming antibiotics if the physician does not prescribe them. WHO recommends that infections be prevented through observing proper hygiene standards and antibiotics be used only when required.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2018.

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