Dr. Mohammad Iqbal Hossain, Associate Professor (Pharmacology), Noakhali Medical College.
55-year-old Rahman (fictitious name) Sahib lives in the village. The family runs on the money given to the sons and daughters. Sometimes there is fever and cough. Buy one or two doses of medicine from the village shop and take it. Get well. He has been suffering from fever for the past few days, taking various medicines from the shop. Not getting better now. He went to the doctor. The doctor tested the urine for a type of bacteria that is resistant to most antibiotics. The doctor gave him injection medicine which cost about 4000 rupees per day. It will take at least ten days again which is almost impossible for him. There are thousands of such Rahman sahibs in our country. Antibiotic resistance is the occurrence of antibiotic resistant bacteria found in Rahman Sahib’s urine.
What causes antibiotic resistance?
1. Ignorance of antibiotic use
2. Excessive and unnecessary antibiotic use
3. Antibiotic use without doctor’s advice
4. Not completing the full course of antibiotics
5. Using antibiotics without proper testing
6. Spread in the natural environment – use of antibiotics in poultry, fisheries.
What is the danger if antibiotic resistance is not prevented?
1. According to statistics, 700,000 people die worldwide every year due to antibiotic resistance
2. By 2050, one million people will die each year due to antibiotic resistance
3. WHO estimates that antibiotic resistance will cost the global health sector an additional 1.2 trillion US dollars in 2050.
What is the way to prevent antibiotic resistance?
1. Antibiotics should be used only as per doctor’s advice
2. Effective measures should be taken to prevent infection
3. A strong national action plan should be formulated and implemented
4. Surveillance should be increased
5. Policies, programs and implementation on infection prevention and control should be strengthened
6. Adequate campaigns and counseling should be ensured to increase awareness
7. Unethical pressure or influence in prescribing medicine should be stopped
8. Antibiotic use in poultry, fisheries should be controlled
9. Antibiotics cannot be sold outside the model pharmacy policy.
The Bangladesh government has introduced model pharmacies and model pharmacy shops in its drug sales policy, banning the sale of antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription, and banning the sale of antibiotics without a licensed pharmacist by the Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh. It is hoped that thousands of Rahman Sahibs will be freed from the horrors of antibiotic resistance through proper implementation of the policies adopted by the government and increasing public awareness.
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