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Microbial drug resistance

Antimicrobial Resistance: A Silent Threat to Modern Medicine

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a pressing concern in hospitals and communities worldwide, putting millions of lives at risk. Medical experts warn that antibiotics, once effective in treating serious infections, are now failing, leading to increased mortality rates and prolonged and costly treatments for those who survive. According to doctors, AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve and become resistant to the medicines used to treat the infections they cause.

Key Takeaways:

  • AMR is a reality and is spreading silently across hospitals and communities, putting millions at risk, says Dr. Ajay Shukla, director and medical superintendent, AB-VIMS & RML Hospital.
  • Minor cuts can become life-threatening, and routine surgeries can become high-risk procedures due to the ineffectiveness of antibiotics, Dr. Shukla warns.
  • Many patients undergo multiple courses of antibiotics without appropriate medical supervision, exacerbating the problem, Dr. Mala Chhabra, senior consultant and associate dean (research), RML Hospital, notes.
  • Overcrowded healthcare facilities, inconsistent infection control measures, and delays in accessing effective diagnostic tools worsen the problem, resulting in loss of life, Dr. Chhabra adds.
  • AMR is driven by over-the-counter access to antibiotics, improper prescriptions, and a lack of stringent antibiotic stewardship, Dr. Sujata E Mathews, professor, department of medicine, RML Hospital, states.
  • Strengthening surveillance, enforcing existing AMR policies, and investing in the development of new antibiotics and alternative treatments are essential to tackle the problem of AMR, doctors emphasize.

Statistics:

  • AMR caused nearly 1.3 million deaths globally in 2019, with the highest burden in low-and middle-income countries, including India, according to a study published in The Lancet in 2022.
  • The study revealed that these numbers may be just the tip of the iceberg due to underreporting, lack of diagnostic resources, and inconsistent data collection.
  • AMR is a major concern for medicos across the globe, with doctors finding themselves ill-equipped to combat infections due to the ineffectiveness of available antibiotics.

Sources:

  • Dr. Ajay Shukla, director and medical superintendent, AB-VIMS & RML Hospital
  • Dr. Mala Chhabra, senior consultant and associate dean (research), RML Hospital
  • Dr. Sujata E Mathews, professor, department of medicine, RML Hospital
  • The Lancet (study published in 2022)
  • Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontiers (MSF)
  • RML Hospital

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