Experts urge immediate action to combat Antimicrobial Resistance at EuroAsia 2024

During the EuroAsia 2024 conference,  critical care experts such as Dr Bharat Jagiasi, Dr Pradip Bhattacharya, Dr Srinivas Samavedam, Dr Pradeep Rangappa, Dr Rajesh Pande, Dr Sachin Gupta, ⁠Dr Bhuvana krishna, ⁠Dr Kartik Rao  highlighted the urgent need to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is responsible for 1.2 million deaths annually in India and projected to cause 10 million deaths by 2050. Emphasising a holistic One Health approach and the pressing need for effective antimicrobial stewardship programs.

Addressing the media, Dr Jagiasi, said “There is a need to aggressively strengthen the fight against AMR and adopt One Health stewardship practices to tackle the global AMR challenge. Implementing effective public campaigns can educate public on antimicrobials prescribed. It is necessary to improve and strengthen hygiene measures and prevent the spread of infections.”

Sharing the factors leading to AMR, Prof. Dr Bhattacharya,  stated, “The One Health concept highlights the critical need to control antibiotic consumption. Data suggests that 1.2 million deaths in India are due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with an estimated 10 million deaths by 2050. The medical fraternity must exercise caution in prescribing antibiotics to avoid unnecessary risks and should adopt a judicious approach through stewardship programs.” 

Dr Samavedam said, “After COVID-19 specially Stewardship is needed which is the right drug, right time, right bug and right dose. The patient needs 36 to 48 hours for any antibiotic to be effective., a little trust is required from the patients. However, the patients take a second opinion and change dosage. Pharmacies are also required to adhere to the norms and putting a red strip on a medicine means that it should be sold with a prescription.” 

On solutions for a secure future against AMR, Dr Rangappa said, “India is the 3rd largest consumer of antibiotics.  30 to 60 per cent of the time,  an antibiotic will be inappropriate and needs to be curtailed. The Indian government has created a national action plan to curtail antibiotic consumption. We have come out with guidelines on surveillance and how resistance patterns are progressing. India is in a serious situation,  so checks and balances need to come in place at the pharmacy level.”

Emphasising on need for pharmaceutical companies to bring newer anti-infectives, Dr Rajesh Pande said, “AMR needs to be tackled through multi-disciplinary approach. While antibiotic consumption needs to be judiciously used both- inside and outside the hospital through monitoring over the counter medication of antibiotics. AMR prevalence is increasing, but unfortunately the pipeline of new antibiotics is running dry. Pharmaceutical companies need to introduce more newer anti-infectives to treat the drug-resistant bacteria, since the pathogens have developed resistance for majority of the current anti-infectives available in the market.”