Antibiotics Under Attack

The advent of antibiotics was a boon for many suffering from serious infections. Lately, however, the indiscriminate use of antibiotics has led to severe public health issues. Harmful micro-organisms are becoming resistant to antibiotics currently in use, and this situation is likely to endanger the future of antibiotic treatment if urgent action is not taken.

THE ISSUE

Antibiotic abuse has contributed to spiralling public healthcare expenditure and governments are realising the importance of curbing the indiscriminate use of these drugs. Physicians find it increasingly difficult to treat infections and patients are forced to stay longer in hospitals, since resistant strains consume more antibiotics, creating longer treatment regimens. This situation is exerting immense pressure on governments to loosen their purse strings and increase public health spending.

The lack of knowledge surrounding the etiology of various infections is another factor in the increasing use of antibiotics. Prescription of these drugs lies solely at the discretion of physicians and, in the absence of unambiguous diagnostic tests and robust guidelines regulating their use, the issue is becoming critical.

The use of antibiotics varies across Europe. Northern regions have low usage rates, while the eastern and southern regions have moderate and high usage respectively. The use of broad spectrum antibiotics has increased over the years, confirming the fact that an increased use of antibiotics leads to multi-resistant bacteria. It has been estimated that the US spends $5 billion annually on this cause. If left unaddressed, this scenario is likely to have a serious economic impact in years to come. Tough bacteria that have outwitted the first and second generation antibiotics are now traversing to the higher generation drugs. Normal medical procedures and various medical interventions are likely to become ineffective if we remain unarmed against such a treacherous invasion.