How antibiotic misuse is fuelling a crisis in ICUs across India, Pg16

Key Highlights:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is rising in India, limiting treatment options in ICUs.
• In 2021, approximately 2.6 lakh deaths in India were directly attributed to AMR.
• A survey across 20 tertiary care hospitals indicated antibiotic overuse, with nearly 75% of patients prescribed antibiotics.
• Over half of the antibiotic prescriptions were for prophylaxis, a practice that is discouraged.

Detailed Insights:

• AMR occurs when microorganisms resist drugs designed to kill them, accelerated by improper antimicrobial use.
• Doctors are increasingly concerned as sensitivity reports show resistance to common antibiotics, requiring combinations or older drugs.
• Overuse of antimicrobials pressures pathogens to mutate, making drugs ineffective during infections.
• 2015 study showed people with multi-drug resistance were nearly two times as likely to die.
• National Centre for Disease Control survey revealed 57% of antibiotics used were from the watch group, likely leading to AMR.
• Only 6% of antibiotics prescribed were definitive treatment, while 94% were empirical prescriptions based on symptoms.
• Good infection control, diagnostic facilities, rationalized prescriptions, and infectious disease doctors are needed to combat AMR.
• Declining use of broad-spectrum antibiotics is observed, but the impact will take time to manifest.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): The ability of microorganisms to resist the effects of drugs designed to kill them.
• Prophylaxis: A measure taken to prevent disease.
• Empirical Prescription: A prescription given based on a doctor's initial assessment of symptoms.