India’s 78th Independence Day: Celebrating Freedom, but the Battle Against Antimicrobial Resistance Continues.

On the 78th Independence Day of India, we come together to celebrate our nation’s journey towards freedom, progress, and development. However, as we rejoice, we must also acknowledge a pressing challenge that still binds us — the growing threat of #AntimicrobialResistance (#AMR). The fight against AMR is one that demands urgent attention and collective action. This unseen enemy threatens to undo decades of medical progress and put millions of lives at risk. If left unchecked, AMR might lead in a post-antibiotic future in which even simple infections can be fatal.

When bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve and gain resistance to the medications that are intended to kill them, they grow more powerful and lethal. The misuse and overuse of #antibiotics and other #antimicrobials in humans, animals, and agriculture have accelerated this process, creating #superbugs that defy even the strongest medications.

India, with its large population and complex healthcare challenges, is at the heart of this catastrophe. The sad reality is that AMR is already present and expanding rapidly. Infections that were once manageable with a short course of antibiotics are now untreatable.  Hospitals are dealing with outbreaks of drug-resistant diseases that are taking lives and raising healthcare expenses. The repercussions of AMR are serious, and if we do not act now, we risk a future in which routine procedures, childbirth, and even small accidents can be fatal.

This is not a far-fetched dystopia; it is a real possibility if we continue to disregard the threat of AMR. World Health Organization has raised the alarm, listing AMR as one of the top ten global health hazards. The clock is ticking, and the implications of inactivity are too serious to be overlooked.

In India, antibiotic abuse is widespread. In rural places with limited access to skilled healthcare experts, antibiotics are frequently distributed like candy, with no concern for proper diagnosis or dosage. Self-medication and the ready availability of over-the-counter antibiotics in metropolitan areas contribute to the spread of resistant strains. This reckless activity endangers not only individual lives, but the entire population.

The economic impact of AMR is tremendous. Prolonged hospital stays, the demand for more expensive and complex treatments, and rising mortality rates are putting a pressure on an already overcrowded healthcare system. However, the impact extends beyond the healthcare sector. AMR jeopardizes food security, economic stability, and even national security.

The importance of antimicrobial stewardship: The situation is dire, but there is hope.

Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) is our most effective protection against the growing threat of AMR. AMS is more than a guideline; it is an urgent call to action. It is about ensuring that antimicrobial medications are used wisely and sparingly, preserving their effectiveness for as long as possible. Every time an antibiotic is used excessively or wrongly, we allow resistant bacteria to grow and spread.
AMS are expressed in the 5 D’s of Antimicrobial Therapy: