Anti-microbial resistance: A threat to public health

The discovery of penicillin opened a new era in the treatment of infectious diseases, described as the “golden age” of antibiotic research (1940–1962). Discovery of other antimicrobials soon followed, and included widely used antibiotics like streptomycin, chloramphenicol and tetracycline. For the first time, many common bacterial diseases could be cured. However, with increasing use of antibiotics, more and more pathogenic bacteria developed resistance to their inhibitory effects. Currently, antimicrobial resistance threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-expanding range of infections. It is an increasingly serious threat to global public health that requires immediate action. The major factors responsible for antibiotic resistance are (1) Inappropriate use & misuse of antibiotics (2) Indiscriminate use of antibiotics in agriculture and veterinary practices (3) Insufficient research and development. In order to combat the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the inappropriate and misuse of antibiotics by the general public should be discouraged by generating awareness regarding development of AMR and its consequences through IEC activities. There should be a check on over the counter sale of antibiotics. Guidelines on antibiotic use and infection control should be followed strictly by health care providers in health facilities and these guidelines should be timely updated.