Page 56 - Mann Ki Baat (English)

Antibiotics have transformed modern
medicine. Yet, their power is rapidly
diminishing due to their misuse and overuse,
fueling the global crisis of Antimicrobial
Resistance (AMR). Resistant infections
prolong hospital stays, inflate healthcare
costs, and claim lives, threatening the gains
made in combating infectious diseases.
The Indian Council of Medical Research
(ICMR) has reported alarmingly high levels
of resistance to commonly used antibiotics
in India. Many bacteria that cause common
infections—such as E. coli, Klebsiella,
Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella,
are no longer responding to first-line and
Dr. Rajiv Bahl even second-line antibiotics. Resistance is
not only restricted to hospitals, but is also
Director General
Indian Council of Medical seen in community settings. The report
Research & highlights increasing resistance to ‘last-
Secretary, Department of resort’ drugs, limited treatment options
Health Research which may result in longer illnesses, higher
costs, and increased risk of death.
Antibiotic use has been recognised as
ANTIBIOTICS one of the key drivers of antibiotic resistance.
Inappropriate use of antibiotics results in
WITH some bacteria surviving instead of being
killed. These surviving bacteria adapt and
CAUTION become resistant. Over time, these resistant
bacteria multiply and spread causing
infections which are harder to treat. In effect,
A Call for misuse of antibiotics ‘trains’ bacteria to
defeat medicines that once killed them.
Responsible Use of Inappropriate antibiotic use includes
Antibiotics taking antibiotics for viral illnesses like colds,
flu, or COVID-19, stopping antibiotics as
soon as symptoms improve, saving leftover
antibiotics for future use, sharing antibiotics
with family members, using old prescriptions
without medical advice and taking incorrect
doses or at irregular timings. Each of these

56
56