ANTIBIOTICS are potent medications that help our bodies fight bacterial infections. When used correctly, they eradicate infections efficiently, allowing us to feel well within days. When used irrationally to treat random health concerns or in the wrong dosage, antibiotics are not only useless, but also harmful to one`s general health.

According to a growing body of research, the more antibiotics we use to treat bacterial illnesses, the more our bodies develop resistance, reducing the efficacy of medicines. Antibiotics are used to combat germs that cause strep throat, ear, sinus, and urinary infections, etc. They are ineffective against flu, colds, coughs and sore throats.

Pakistan is rated third among lowincome nations in terms of antibiotic usage, with antibiotic consumption increasing from 0.8 to 1.3 billion defined daily doses (DDDs), which indicated a 65 per cent spike between the years 2000 and 2015.

According to the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), there are approximately 600,000 unregistered medical practitioners in the country who pose a threat to people`s lives. And one of the many ways in which these quacks cause the harm they do is by way of prescribing antibiotics without having any credentials to do so. Antibiotic misuse is directly linked to a lack of public awareness and improper knowledge of antibiotics and their usage.

Antibiotic awareness and understanding among the general public as well as good attitude and practices by the medical practitioners in terms of the right use of these drugs can together play an important role in rationalising the consumption of antibiotics.

As such, there is a need to study the general public`s understanding, attitudes and behaviours related to antibiotic usage, as well as the factors that encourage irrational use of antibiotics. This is especially necessary in countries like Pakistan where access to antibiotics is relatively unrestricted. One of the primary causes of antibiotic resistance in Pakistan is the widespread over-the-counteravailability of medicines without a prescription from a qualified and registered physician.

The government, the medical community and relevant organisations should work together to spread awareness about the hazards of antibiotic misuse and overuse. Moreover, there is a need to curb over-the-counter sale of antibiotics.

Adil Mir Islamabad