‘Lancet article has drawn attention to the issue of antimicrobial resistance'
Even as the controversy over the origin of the new antibiotic-resistant bacteria named after India — New Delhi Metallo-beta lactamase-1 (NDM-1) — continues, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has virtually endorsed the study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal saying that the article had drawn attention to the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and, in particular, raised the awareness of infections caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the WHO said that while multi-drug resistant bacteria are not new and will continue to appear, this development requires monitoring and further study to understand the extent and modes of transmission, and to define the most effective measures for control.
AMR will be the theme of the WHO's World Health Day 2011.
The organisation has advised that countries should be prepared to implement hospital infection control measures to limit the spread of multi-drug-resistant strains and to reinforce national policy on prudent use of antibiotics, reducing the generation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
AMR — the ability of micro-organisms to find ways to evade the action of the drugs used to cure the infections they cause — is increasingly recognised as a global public health issue which could hamper the control of many infectious diseases.
Some bacteria have developed mechanisms which render them resistant to many of the antibiotics normally used for their treatment (multi-drug-resistant bacteria), and thus pose particular difficulties as there may be few or no alternative options for therapy. They constitute a growing and global public health problem.
Those called upon by the organisation to be alert to the problem of AMR and take appropriate action include consumers, prescribers and dispensers, veterinarians, managers of hospitals and diagnostic laboratories, patients and visitors to healthcare facilities, as well as national governments, the pharmaceutical industry, professional societies, and international agencies.
The WHO has strongly recommended that governments focus control and prevention efforts in some main areas of surveillance for AMR — rational antibiotic use, including education of healthcare workers and the public in the appropriate use of antibiotics; introducing or enforcing legislation related to stopping the selling of antibiotics without prescription; and strict adherence to infection prevention and control measures, including the use of hand-washing measures, particularly in healthcare facilities.
Successful control of multi-drug-resistant micro-organisms has been documented in many countries, and the existing and well-known infection prevention and control measures can effectively reduce transmission of multi-drug-resistant organisms if rigorously and systematically implemented.
The WHO will continue to support countries to develop relevant policies and to coordinate international efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance.
Keywords: WHO, superbug, antimicrobial resistance, World Health Day
Non-judicious, indiscriminate use of antibiotics should be stopped from all ends. Awareness , imposing laws in this regard throughout the world may be helpful to prevent development of newer antibiotic resistant bacteria.
i have had multiple sclerosis relapsing remitting for six years
going to medicity gurgaon for ccsvi liberation procedure
am i at risk for superbug?
Although multidrug resistant bacteria are not new and will continue to appear, we do need to look into the way antibiotics are used in India. Even if the NDM-1 was mislabeled, it does not change the fact that we could be contributing to rise in antibiotic resistance. So irrespective of the report, India does need to start looking into antibiotic use in the country. That it required a controversial report to make us focus on this issue is both sad and quite revealing of our attitudes. Let us make a start somewhere....
Many people are not aware of the infectious diseases occuring now.
Health workershas to involved in awareness programme and educate them about the cleaniness and hygiene they have to maintain in their day to day life.Over dosage of antibiotics have to be prohibited and this has to be implemented throughout the country through proper ruloe.
a major role for developing antibiotic resistance is being played by the quaks of our country.
As the quaks lack the knowledge about antibiotics they injudiciously use it.our govt should take steps to counteract quaks.strict rule should be made about procurement of drugs from supplier of drugs.
Is this begining of the end?
Poverty definitely encourages over the counter purchase of medicines but our doctors also because of fear that they may lose patients resort to irrational use of antibiotics. Not to mention about quacks.
Poverty forces many to buy antibiotics directly from pharmacists. Further in India antibiotics are not prudently used. Further lack of community hygiene among people forces Doctors to over-prescribe them. The situation is complex.
Director General Health Services of India and Directors of Health and Medical services of various states should ponder over this article and organise workshops to educate professionals as this is serious threat in our country. There is no policy at present. Develop consensus, make policy and strictly implement.
WHO should authenticate the study on MMR, rather than rely on some one's report. What is the conclusion of the study? Does the WHO chief know it? Forget the Chief, did any single individual from WHO, a doctor, microbiologist or even a employee has gone through the report? There are so many loopholes and the analysis is incomplete, so how can it be authenticated by such a reputed organisation?
I am delighted that WHO has given its substantial imprimatur to the Lancet Infectious Diseases study. It is the right thing to do from a public health viewpoint, and it is good both for India and for the rest of the world. In reporting the Indian reaction to Tim Walsh et al's article, the press in India has favored words such as "slammed," "rubbished," "blasted," to describe rejection of the article's content. In this instance, the medical authorities in India, both in the private sector (that caters to medical tourism) and the government, didn't rubbish anything--they only made a laughing stock of themselves. Perhaps the Indian media will now give more airtime to the voices of reason in India that have been calling for a national discussion on the indiscriminate use of (and free access to) a wide range of antibiotics.
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