Responding to the challenge of antibiotic resistance: World Health Organization

• Published in: Journal of research in medical sciences 2018-01, Vol.23 (1), p.21-21
• Main Authors: Shrivastava, Saurabh, Shrivastava, Prateek, Ramasamy, Jegadeesh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibiotics; Communicable diseases; Drug resistance; Drug therapy; Health attitudes; Influence; Letter to Editor; Microbial drug resistance; Nosocomial infections; Prevention
• ISSN: 1735-1995; 1735-1995; 1735-7136
• DOI: 10.4103/1735-1995.228593

[2],[4] Further, a wide range of factors, such as over-the-counter sale of antibiotics without prescription, no comprehensive universal mechanism to prohibit the sale of antibiotics over the internet, the absence of standardized treatment guidelines for all infectious disease owing to which antibiotics are either overprescribed or overconsumed, misuse of antibiotics, poor infection, and control measures, have played a significant role in the augmentation of the problem. [2] This is predominantly because of the compulsion to use second-line drugs (as the first-line drugs are ineffective) that are more expensive, longer treatment schedule, more incidence of adverse drug effects or disease-associated complications, and longer stay in hospital and thus more risk of nosocomial infections, all of which together have increased the burden on families and societies. [2] However, if the international stakeholders practically aim to restrict the spread of antibiotic resistance, there is a significant need to improve the awareness and understanding about antibiotic resistance among both the general population and health professionals, strengthen surveillance and research activities, implement measures to reduce the incidence of infection, standardize the use of drugs, continue financial support to effectively respond to the problem, and involve all the stakeholders (viz., the general public, health workers, pharmacists, policymakers, the agricultural sector, the healthcare industry).