Penicillin, the once wonder drug is fast losing its effectiveness with widespread undesirable prescription of the drugs by general physicians. As a result, there has been a rapid increase in the number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are complicating diseases.
To prevent misuse of antibiotics, a campaign called ‘Clean, Safe Care’ has been launched in UK to educate health workers. ₤45 million will be spent by the UK National Health Service to cleanse hospitals of drug-resistant bugs. Despite of being viral infections, antibiotics are widely prescribed for common cold, cough and flu.
Doctors in UK have been asked to stop prescribing antibiotics for common cold and cough to prevent their misuse as well as overuse. Overuse of antibiotics is increasing the incidence of gut infections, drug-resistant tuberculosis and MRSA. The rise in drug-resistant bugs is a problem that all countries face.
The problem has assumed deadly proportions mostly in developing countries where common antibiotic medicines are available as over the counter drugs. Stringent steps must be taken by the global community to prevent misuse of antibiotics as the increase in drug-resistant bugs has a serious consequence on global health.
Image: biotechnology online
Source: telegraph