Antibiotic Resistance

GS Paper II Health

Context:

An 18-year-old patient with T-cell leukemia battled an aggressive form of leukemia and an extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.
Limited treatment options due to resistance led to a rapid deterioration in the patient’s condition.
The patient showed remarkable improvement after receiving the antibiotic cefepime/zidebactam, developed by Indian researchers.

What is Antibiotic Resistance?

Antibiotic resistance refers to the ability of bacteria or other microbes to withstand the effects of antibiotics, rendering them ineffective in treating infections.
For example, extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa is highly resistant to multiple antibiotics.

Important Antibiotics:

Antibiotic	Cefepime/zidebactam	Cefiderocol
Development	Developed by Indian researchers	Developed by a Japanese company
How does it work?	It combines two active components to combat drug-resistant gram-negative pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa.	It has demonstrated excellent efficacy against drug-resistant infections.
Importance	Promising results in treating infections with limited treatment options due to antibiotic resistance	Provides a new option for treating infections that do not respond to conventional antibiotics.

Suggestions for Action:

Grant EUA to New Antibiotics: Grant Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for antibiotics currently in phase 3 trials or licensed from other countries.
Recognize the Potential: Recognize the potential of cefepime/zidebactam and cefiderocol. and expedite their EUA to provide timely access to effective treatments.
Ensure Responsible Use: Ensure responsible and appropriate utilization of these antibiotics through collective decisions by experienced doctors and infectious diseases experts.
Strengthen the Arsenal: Strengthen the arsenal against drug-resistant infections by including these antibiotics in the EUA list.
Emphasize the Need for Research: Emphasize the need for continued research and development of powerful antibiotics to combat superbugs and address the growing challenge of antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotic Resistance: The Way Forward

Invest in Research: Increased research is necessary to develop new antibiotics and combat antibiotic resistance.
Promote Responsible Use: Effective antibiotics must be used responsibly to avoid overuse and prevent the development of resistance.
Collaborate Across Disciplines: Collaboration between physicians, researchers, and policymakers is crucial for effective antibiotic stewardship.

Measures to Address Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in India:

National Programme on AMR Containment (2012): This program strengthens the AMR surveillance network by establishing labs in State Medical Colleges to monitor and address antimicrobial resistance.
National Action Plan on AMR (2017): This plan takes a One Health approach, involving various ministries and departments to tackle antimicrobial resistance collectively.
AMR Surveillance and Research Network (AMRSN) (2013): This network collects data to identify trends and patterns of drug-resistant infections in India, aiding in evidence-based decision-making.
Antibiotic Stewardship Program (AMSP): Implemented as a pilot project across India, this program aims to control the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in hospital wards and intensive care units.
Ban on Inappropriate Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs): The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has prohibited 40 fixed-dose combinations that were found to be inappropriate, promoting the responsible use of medications.