Doctors worldwide are now pinning their hope on Teixobactin, the latest discovery in 30 years. It has been found to treat many common bacterial infections such as tuberculosis and septicaemia and could be available within five years.
At a time when the medical fraternity is celebrating the discovery of a new antibiotic after 30 years, health experts offer a word of caution. Rampant prescription use of existing antibiotics in the past ten years by the doctors, and over-the-counter sale have led to a serious health-care crisis across the country, they say.
What is the crisis?
According to doctors, treating Gram-negative bacteria – which affect mostly hospitalised patients – are getting difficult to treat because this category of germs is evolving and becoming ever more immune to existing antibiotics. The bacteria, which get their name because of their reaction to the Gram stain test, can cause severe pneumonia and infections of the urinary tract, bloodstream and other parts of the body. Their cell structure makes them more difficult to attack with antibiotics than Gram-positive organisms like MRSA.
"Because of Gram-negative infections, people's hospital stay is prolonged, which increases the cost of treatment," said Dr Om Shrivastava, infectious disease expert at Jaslok Hospital.
Do we need stringent rules?
Yes. Dr Kishor Taori, president of the Maharashtra Medical Council said in Western and Gulf countries, there is a system of auditing even the prescription, which is lacking in India. "In India, there no audit of antibiotics happening. We, at MMC, are in the process of making our doctors follow drug hygiene." Dr Tori added that the issue is very important and needs to be tackled at the earliest. "Rise in antibiotic resistance of tuberculosis is one example why we need to get serious."
How else can the issue be tackled?
According to the Indian Medical Association – an umbrella body of allopathic practitioners, awareness can go a long way in controlling mindless use of antibiotics. The doctors' body has started a campaign under to educate its members on the judicious use of antibiotics. In a recently conducted audit of prescriptions of suspected dengue deaths, a civic committee also observed non-judicious use of antibiotics in dengue treatment for a quick result.
Doctors worldwide are now pinning their hope on Teixobactin, the latest discovery in 30 years. It has been found to treat many common bacterial infections such as tuberculosis and septicaemia and could be available within five years.
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