Antiobiotic resistance | Photo Credit: Thinkstock

Chennai: Even as health experts warn of lethal consequences resulting from overuse of antibiotics, a recent publication by Aetna International highlights antibiotic resistance as a serious health risk to the public. The Aetna International white paper also mentioned India as amongst the world’s largest consumers of antibiotics for human health, indicating the need for immediate action to contain the situation. It said that multiple factors, such as high burden of disease, poor public health infrastructure, rising incomes and the unregulated sale of cheap antibiotics have escalated the crisis of antibiotics resistance in India.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is causing around 7 lakh deaths worldwide and the death toll may reach 1 crore per year by 2050, said stated the Aetna report titled ‘Antibiotic resistance: Toward better stewardship of a precious medical resource'. Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. However, overuse of antibiotics promotes antibiotic resistance - the ability of a microorganism to withstand the effects of an antibiotic. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today. Read: Are they playing with your health? 64% of antibiotic pills sold in India unapproved by regulator!

Although antibiotic resistance may occur naturally, misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals is accelerating the process, warns WHO. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says up to one-third to one-half of antibiotic use in humans is unnecessary or inappropriate.

Also, a survey conducted by WHO in 2015 found that 75% percent of respondents from Egypt, India, Mexico and Sudan reported taking an antibiotic within the last six months, compared with just 35% of those from Barbados.

Dr Mitesh Patel, Medical Director, Aetna International, said: “We strongly advocate action through proactive education, early intervention, data analysis and an emphasis on value-based care. The antibiotic resistance is a crisis that affects everyone globally and we need to address this issue now with a global, multifaceted strategic solution.”

“The majority of Indians think antibiotics can cure illnesses such as common cold and gastroenteritis, which is a wrong perception. Viruses cause the majority of these infections and antibiotics have no role in their treatment. This problem of inappropriate antibiotic use is compounded by their easy availability at pharmacies,” Dr Prashant Kr Dash, chief medical officer, vhealth added.