"World Health Organisation (WHO) has included Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) as one of the top ten threats to global health in 2019." This was reiterated by medical practitioners on Saturday in a press briefing at local hotel in connection with the World Antibiotic Awareness Week, which is observed every year, November 18 - November 24, 2019.
Causing more than 700,000 deaths every year, which is even more than the number of people dying by cancer or other diseases, Antibiotic Resistance is becoming a serious threat to the society with not many people being much aware of it.
Antibiotic or Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) arises when the infection-causing micro-organisms such as bacteria survive exposure to a medicine that would normally kill them, thus becoming Superbugs.
"Overuse and misuse of antibiotics have helped the bacteria grow stronger and resistant to antibiotics. What had emerged as life-saving drugs are now turning into a threat to global health because of its excessive and unnecessary usage," said Dr Zafar Mahmood, Associate Professor at Hamdard University & HOD KVSS Hospital Karachi.
"Using antibiotics for coughs and colds where they will have no effect as treatment may give rise to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) owing to its misuse. While antibiotics are widely used in the treatment and prevention of infections caused by bacteria; they are not effective against common cold or flu caused by viruses and the general public needs to be educated about it," he added.
Stressing upon the need to understand Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in order to avoid its rising prevalence, Dr Faisal Faiyaz Zuberi, Interventional Pulmonologist, Associate Professor Pulmonology, Head of Chest Unit-II at Dow University of Health Sciences Karachi said, "With the numbers so alarming at present, fighting against Antibiotic Resistance is the need of the hour.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019