Srinagar, Nov 26 (KNO): Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to pose one of the greatest threats to global health, jeopardising the effectiveness of treatments for infectious diseases and undermining decades of medical progress, experts warn.
A senior doctor at the Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar explained to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the world’s most powerful antibiotics, once capable of saving millions of lives, are now becoming increasingly ineffective.
“AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve resistance to the drugs that previously killed or inhibited them,” the doctor said. “As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, leading to prolonged infections, the spread of diseases, and an increased risk of severe health complications.”
Experts said there are several factors leading to AMR, including the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, incomplete courses of treatment, poor infection control measures, agricultural practices, and the lack of new antibiotics. The doctor highlighted the importance of cautious antibiotic use. “Think twice and seek medical advice before using antibiotics. Misuse of these drugs puts everyone at risk,” he urged. “Overuse of antibiotics is promoting the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria, making even common infections harder to treat.”
The doctor said it is urgent to address this growing concern. “The rising levels of AMR require immediate action to explore and implement strategies to curb its spread,” he said.
A 2022 report in The Lancet highlighted the devastating global impact of AMR, revealing that bacterial resistance was responsible for an estimated 4.95 million deaths worldwide by 2019. Without substantial interventions, the report predicts that AMR could lead to 10 million deaths annually by 2050.
Another expert said that AMR has far-reaching effects, including public health crises, economic burdens, and the exacerbation of global health inequities. “There is a need for responsible antibiotic use, proper disposal of unused or expired medications, and stricter regulations on pharmaceutical waste to reduce the environmental impact and prevent further resistance development,” he said.
To combat AMR, experts recommend the rational use of antibiotics, improved infection prevention measures, strengthened surveillance systems, public education campaigns and increased funding for research into new antibiotics and alternatives.
In the Kashmir Valley, inappropriate antibiotic use is a major contributor to rising AMR levels. One doctor revealed that more than two-thirds of antibiotics are unnecessarily prescribed for viral infections or conditions that do not involve bacterial pathogens at all. The widespread over-the-counter antibiotic use without proper prescription, especially in chemist shops, and the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in hospitals without appropriate testing are major concerns.
“There is an urgent need for an antibiotic policy that regulates and rationalises antibiotic use both in hospitals and in the community,” the doctor said. “Such a policy would help standardize treatment protocols and ensure antibiotics are used appropriately, reducing the risk of resistance.”—(KNO)