- The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has initiated a campaign on the rational use of antibiotics after recent reports revealed that chickens are being fed antibiotics.
- The residues of these antibiotics then find their way into humans where they create resistant microbes.
- Continuous exposure to antibiotics by natural selection leads to the emergence of resistant strains of bacteria which escape the harmful effects of antibiotics, making these antibiotics ineffective.
- They also alter the genetic material of other disease-causing bacteria, making even them resistant to several drugs. This may result in a global pandemic.
- In India, lack of proper data and drug resistance is a major problem. An integrated surveillance system is essential to monitor antibiotics use and antibiotics resistance in humans.
- Data from various hospitals has revealed that several species of bacteria such as Escherichia, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter and Enterococcus show high level of resistance to antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, tetracycline and doxycyclin.
- Read at: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/ima-calls-for-strict-action-to-prevent-antibiotic-misuse/article6273820.ece