• UGI USER
  • Jan 22, 2024
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ANTIBIOTICS : USE AND OVERUSE

Why in the News?

  • Union Health Ministry urges clear antibiotic prescription reasons. Law mandates pharmacists to dispense antibiotics only with valid prescriptions.
  • Initiated due to rising global antibiotic resistance, causing 4.95 million deaths in 2019.
Source: WHO

Antibiotic Overuse:

  • Survey Findings: A recent National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) survey reveals that, on average, 71.9% of patients in tertiary care hospitals are prescribed antibiotics.
  • Prophylactic Usage: More than half of the prescriptions are for prophylaxis, given before procedures or surgeries, contributing to antibiotic overuse.
  • Impact: Excessive use of antibiotics may lead to the emergence of drug-resistant ‘superbugs,’ impacting public health and the environment.
About Antibiotic

·    Germ Fighters: Antibiotics are medications that fight bacterial infections.

·    Targeted Weapons: They attack specific parts of bacteria, stopping them from growing or multiplying.

·    Not Against virus : Don’t work against viruses or other microbes like fungi.

·    Use only as prescribed by doctors to avoid side effects and resistance.

·    Can treat serious infections like pneumonia and meningitis, but overuse can make bacteria stronger.