Experts warn against overuse of antibiotics

ISLAMABAD: Medical experts warned that overuse and misuse of antibiotics is creating a major public health threat which could mean we eventually run out of effective antibiotics to treat infections.

The drugs are not necessary in most cases, do not work against many of the infections and contribute to the spread of lethal hospital superbugs like MRSA, experts said. Family doctors routinely prescribe antibiotics for common respiratory infections such as sore throats.

A senior Physician Dr Kamran claimed they often feel under pressure from patients who are angered if they are refused treatment.



He said that a "casual attitude to antibiotics" is damaging their effectiveness and warned that it could lead to a return to a pre-antibiotic era. Antibiotics are a precious medicine designed only to be used for infections caused by bacteria," adding, "unfortunately, antibiotics are the only medicine in which widespread use decreases their effectiveness so taking them for the wrong reason or taking them incorrectly allows bacteria to develop resistance against antibiotics".

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2018.