Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic Resistance 5 Jul 2023

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.

Archive Calendar

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

Need help preparing for UPSC or State PSCs?

Connect with our experts to get free counselling & start preparing

Know about Physics Wallah

Physics Wallah is an Indian online education platform, that provides accessible & comprehensive learning experiences to students of classes 6 to 12 and those preparing for JEE and NEET exams. We also provide extensive NCERT solutions, sample papers, NEET, JEE Mains, BITSAT previous year papers, which makes us a one-stop solution for all resources. Physics Wallah also caters to over 3.5 million registered students and over 78 lakh+ Youtube subscribers with 4.8 rating on its app.

We Stand Out because

We successfully provide students with intensive courses by India's qualified & experienced faculties. PW strives to make the learning experience comprehensive and accessible for students of all sections of society. We believe in empowering every single student who couldn't dream of a good career in engineering and medical field earlier.

Our Key Focus Areas

Physics Wallah’s main focus is to create accessible learning experiences for students all over India. With courses like Lakshya, Udaan, Arjuna & many others, we have been able to provide a ready solution for lakhs of aspirants. From providing Chemistry, Maths, Physics formulae to giving e-books of eminent authors, PW aims to provide reliable solutions for student prep.

What Makes Us Different

Physics Wallah strives to develop a comprehensive pedagogical structure for students, where they get a state-of-the-art learning experience with study material and resources. Apart from catering students preparing for JEE Mains and NEET, PW also provides study material for each state board like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and others.

Aiming for UPSC?

Download Our App

# #
Quick Revise Now !
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD SOON
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

<div class="new-fform">






    </div>

    Subscribe our Newsletter
    Sign up now for our exclusive newsletter and be the first to know about our latest Initiatives, Quality Content, and much more.
    *Promise! We won't spam you.
    Yes! I want to Subscribe.