India has made remarkable successes in the medical field in the last few years. However, a large number of cases of negligence in health care are also being seen here. Easy availability of medicines, over-the-counter medicines and continuous use of antibiotics are taking a toll on health. A report published in the Lancet e-Clinical Medicine journal presents shocking statistics. The report states that multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are found in 83% of Indian patients. Antibiotics have become ineffective in these patients. This situation is a challenge not only for the patients but for the entire medical system of the country, which requires a united response.
A big crisis for India
Researchers at AIG Hospital have warned that India is at the center of a superbug outbreak, requiring urgent policy changes and a national movement on antibiotic stewardship. These results have been released on the occasion of Antimicrobial Stewardship Week observed from 18 to 25 November. The study analyzed more than 1,200 patients from four countries. It found that Indian patients undergoing routine endoscopic procedures (ERCP) had higher tolerance to MDRO compared to patients in other countries.
Antibiotics are not working properly
MDRO was found in 83% of patients in India, compared to 31.5% in Italy, 20.1% in the US and 10.8% in the Netherlands. This means that many people will no longer respond to common antibiotics. Dr. D. Nageswara Reddy, president of AIG Hospitals and co-author of the study, said, “When more than 80% of patients … are already suffering from drug-resistant bacteria, it means that the threat is no longer limited to hospitals; it also permeates our communities, our environment and our daily lives.” These health habits are increasing the risk.
This points to a deep-rooted community-based problem linked to factors such as antibiotic misuse, easy availability of over-the-counter antibiotics, incomplete treatment and widespread self-medication. The ineffectiveness of antibiotics forces hospitals to use more powerful drugs, which do not provide immediate relief, increase the risk of complications, and increase the cost of treatment.