ANTIBIOTIC MISUSE
Government considers ban on two antibiotics
The government is considering banning the production, import, and distribution of chloramphenicol and nitrofurans antibiotics used in food-producing animal rearing systems, due to misuse in poultry and animal feed supplements.
India's drug regulator cracks down on antibiotic misuse, seeks list of licensed combinations
India's drug regulator has directed state counterparts to provide a list of antibiotic combinations licensed for manufacturing and marketing within two weeks to combat misuse. This move follows recommendations from an expert sub-committee under the Drugs Technical Authority Board (DTAB) to regulate antibiotic use. The regulator seeks to ban inappropriate combinations and monitor unapproved antibiotics in the market. A sub-committee was formed to examine this issue, leading to the recent directive to state drug regulators and port officers.
Can Kerala's antibiotic abuse project inspire India's antimicrobial resistance fight?
In 2019, nearly 300,000 deaths in India were due to AMR. Over 1 million deaths were linked to drug resistance, making infections more challenging to treat. Kerala initiated an AMR action plan in 2018. However, analysts say that Kerala’s approach might not be directly applicable to other states, where access to antibiotics is itself an issue.
Fighting superbugs: New paper-based platform enables rapid antibiotic-resistance screening
Researchers have developed a paper-based platform for rapidly detecting antibiotic-resistant bacteria, addressing a critical need in combating the rise of such pathogens. Utilizing luminescent technology, the platform efficiently identifies antibiotic resistance within hours, significantly reducing diagnosis time compared to traditional methods.
Govt asks doctors, pharmacists to mention reasons for prescribing antibiotics
The Union Health Ministry has called for doctors to mention the indication and reason for prescribing antibiotics. This is in response to the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials, which contribute to the development of drug-resistant pathogens. The ministry emphasizes the importance of prudent antibiotic use to delay the emergence of resistance.
Antibiotic (mis)use needs proper regulation
India consumes a high volume of broad-spectrum antibiotics - drugs that treat a wide range of common bacterial infections and should be used sparingly - and unapproved formulations of medicines. This high volume of antibiotic consumption is mainly due to unrestricted drug manufacturing, marketing and sales, thanks to a weak regulatory structure. Doctors prefer to prescribe drugs, sometimes indiscriminately, rather than order tests.
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Two painkillers Tapentadol and Pregabalin may go off OTC over misuse
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) is considering banning over-the-counter (OTC) sales of pain relievers Tapentadol and Pregabalin to curb misuse. Pregabalin is prescribed for neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia, while Tapentadol is used for seizures. The DCGI has constituted a sub-committee to review the matter, including experts from the regulator's office, clinicians, and pharmacologists.
WHO says misuse of antibiotics undermining efficacy
Misuse of antibiotics is denting their efficacy and spawning resistant bacteria which could be responsible for 10 million deaths worldwide by 2050, the World Health Organization warned Thursday. WHO warned that without immediate intervention, resistance to antimicrobials -- which includes antibiotics -- could lead to up to 10 million deaths a year by 2050.
Taking antibiotics for cough & cold can become life threatening, warn experts
Medical experts at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) Lucknow have raised concerns about the indiscriminate use of antibiotics for minor issues like colds and coughs, which is leading to antibiotic resistance. The misuse of antibiotics allows antibiotic-resistant bacteria, viruses, or fungi to proliferate, particularly affecting individuals with compromised immune systems.
Fever cases are on the rise, but avoid antibiotics: Indian Medical Association
"The infection usually lasts for about five to seven days. The fever goes away at the end of three days, but the cough can persist for up to three weeks. As per information from NCDC, most of these cases are H3N2 influenza virus," the medical body said.
AMR action: Kerala to cancel licences of pharmacies selling antibiotics without prescription
The WHO has said the emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens that have acquired new resistance mechanisms continues to threaten our ability to treat common infections. Especially alarming is the rapid global spread of multi- and pan-resistant bacteria (also known as "superbugs") that cause infections that are not treatable with existing antimicrobial medicines such as antibiotics, it has said.
Covid first wave led to increase in antibiotic misuse in India: Study
The researchers at Washington University in the US estimated that Covid-19 likely contributed to 216.4 million excess doses of antibiotics and 38 million more doses of azithromycin in adults from June 2020 through September 2020, a period of peak Covid-19 activity in India.
Antibiotics for Covid cases worsen India’s superbug crisis
Doctors battling to save lives amid a dearth of effective treatments are turning to the medicines they have on hand — often antibiotics that aren’t used in other countries for Covid-19. What’s more, the chaos of overrun hospitals means staff can’t always take precautions to ensure infections don’t spread from one patient to the next.
Antibiotics in development not enough to tackle 'superbugs'- WHO
Out of the 43 antibiotics in development, the WHO said 26 drugs target the 13 most dangerous "superbugs". But the health agency said most of these antibiotics are derivatives of existing classes, which could result in "rapid emergence of drug-resistance."
Oxford University's new mega centre to combat global antibiotic resistance
The university experts warn that it is arguably the greatest economic and healthcare challenge facing the world post-Covid and therefore the new Ineos Oxford Institute (IOI) is being set up to create collaborative and cross-disciplinary links across the sciences.
Scientists develop faster way of detecting antibiotic resistance in bacteria
According to the researchers, including those from the University of Sheffield in the UK, the standard method for detecting antibiotic resistance in bacterial samples is a relatively slow process that typically takes between 12 and 24 hours.
Central drugs regulator asks states, UTs to stop online sale of medicines
DCGI has asked all drug regulators in states and Union Territories to prohibit sale of drugs by online pharmacies.
Experts are mulling to group antibiotics into categories to combat misuse
The WHO in its revision exercise of antibiotics have grouped them into three categories– access, watch and reserve. WHO recommends that antibiotics in the access group be available “at all times” as treatments for a wide range of common infections.
Most healthy Indians resistant to common antibiotics: Study
Inappropriate use of antibiotics is the biggest cause of drug resistance in humans.
DRDO develops 'combat drugs' to reduce casualties in Pulwama type attacks, warfare
The spectrum includes bleeding wound sealants, super absorptive dressings and glycerated salines, all of which can save lives in the event of warfare in jungle and high altitude areas as well as in terror attacks, scientists said.
Do you often take antibiotics, even without a prescription? It could turn minor infections into a major health concern
Studies have shown that around 50-60% of antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary.
PIL filed in Bombay High Court seeking curbs on antibiotics sale without prescription
The petition followed investigation by an activist who found that antibiotics under ‘restricted use’ were freely available over the counter across pharmacies in India.
Enforcement agency's role is important to ensure there is no misuse of oxytocin: KAPL
The government has proposed a ban on private producers to curb the use of the drug illegally in livestock to increase milk production.
Untreatable infections caused two of three newborn deaths in Delhi hospital
The data for AIIMS, Safdarjung and Lok Nayak, which cater mostly to inborn babies, was published in The Lancet in 2016. It showed nearly 25 per cent neonates died due to infection.
At the epicenter of a war, Indian antibiotic startups are fighting back
“We’re creating a bullet against organisms that are taking out humanity. Wouldn’t it be nice to get a battleground to test it on that’s really tough?” said Anandkumar, co-founder of Bugworks Research India.
Antibiotic use in poultry sector rampant: CSE
CSE yesterday slammed the All India Poultry Development and Services Private Limited for its advertisement and said it was "complete misrepresentation".
Common drugs to get OTC tag, antibiotics on prescription only
Commonly used medicines for flu and pain relief that are available over the counter (OTC) despite some being "prescription only", will now be put on a specific OTC list.
WHO highlights misunderstanding about antibiotic resistance in India
Around 75 per cent of Indians who took part in a WHO survey think, incorrectly, that colds and flu can be treated with antibiotics, the UN agency said as it sought to highlight the issue of widespread misunderstanding about antibiotic resistance.
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