Chennai: More than 50,000 newborns die in a year due to antimicrobial resistance in India, World Health Organisation (WHO) former chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan said on Monday, suggesting creating awareness, banning sale of antibiotics without prescription in pharmacies and developing new vaccines to combat this.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) happens when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to medicines, leading to infections becoming difficult/ impossible to treat and increasing risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
“During Covid, many people took antibiotics, and it increased resistance. We need to create awareness that antibiotics can be used only for bacterial infections. They should not be used for normal cold and fever,” she said at the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2024 inaugural organised by Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology at Alagappa College of Technology in Anna University.
Vaccines are the best way to prevent infections and reduce need for antibiotics, she said, adding that Kerala govt fining pharmacies that issue antibiotics without prescriptions helped cut down their use.
“Pharmacies should not give antibiotics without prescription. We need to implement it strictly. Hospitals also can spread antibiotic resistance. Every hospital needs an antibiotic stewardship programme and an infection prevention and control committee. They should decide which patient needs what type of antibiotics.”
Use of antibiotics in agriculture, animals and fisheries should be regulated, she said. “TN govt has set up a one-health committee to address some of the issues public health, humans, wild health, animal health, agriculture, environment,” she said.
The committee headed by the chief secretary will meet next week. She urged people to wear masks in public places to prevent the spread of viral infections incase they have cold and fever during the winter season.
Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology member secretary S Vincent, Alagappa College of Technology dean S Meenakshisundaram and others participated.
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