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Antibiotic Misuse Driving India’s Antimicrobial Resistance Crisis

Why in the News?

AIIMS Director Dr M Srinivas warned that rampant antibiotic misuse is pushing India towards a public health crisis, echoing PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat concerns on rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and weakening effectiveness of life-saving drugs. This crisis parallels environmental challenges, where the need for a pollution-free environment intersects with public health concerns.

Rising AMR Threat and Expert Warnings:

  • India is witnessing a rapid escalation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) due to the indiscriminate and incomplete use of antibiotics, according to AIIMS Director Dr M Srinivas.
  • He cautioned that if urgent corrective steps are not taken, India may soon be left without effective medicines to treat serious infections.
  • The warning aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s December 28 Mann Ki Baat address, where he flagged the dangers of casual antibiotic consumption.
  • Citing Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) findings, the Prime Minister highlighted that antibiotics are becoming ineffective against common infections like pneumonia and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
  • Experts stressed that AMR poses a grave threat to critical care, as even last-resort antibiotics are failing in ICU settings.

Causes, Consequences, and Global Trends

  • Misuse by patients, such as self-medication and stopping antibiotics mid-course, significantly accelerates resistance.
  • Over-prescription by doctors, often without diagnostic confirmation, further worsens the problem.
  • Dr Srinivas urged strict adherence to standard treatment guidelines and completion of the full antibiotic course.
  • According to a WHO report, one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections globally in 2023 was resistant to antibiotic treatment.
  • Between 2018 and 2023, resistance increased in over 40% of pathogen–antibiotic combinations, with an annual rise of 5–15%, indicating a rapidly intensifying global health threat.

About Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):

  • Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): The ability of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi) to resist drugs designed to kill them.
  • Major Drivers: Overuse and misuse of antibiotics, poor infection control, lack of diagnostics, and unregulated drug sales.
  • Key Institutions:

○ WHO: Global AMR surveillance and action plans

○ ICMR: National AMR research and surveillance in India

  • Policy Framework:

○ National Action Plan on AMR (2017–2021, extended)

○ Aligned with WHO’s Global Action Plan on AMR

  • Public Health Impact: Increased mortality, longer hospital stays, higher healthcare costs, and threat to modern medical procedures like surgery and chemotherapy.
  • Overall, unchecked AMR risks reversing decades of medical progress, making antibiotic stewardship, public awareness, and regulatory enforcement critical for safeguarding India’s health security. This challenge mirrors environmental concerns addressed by the EIA Notification, emphasizing the need for comprehensive approaches to both health and environmental protection.