ANTIBIOTIC resistance is on the rise in Pakistan. It is becoming more difficult to treat infections with antibiotics in our hospitals and in the community as well.
Hundreds of patients are dying in our hospitals due to infections which are resistant to almost all antibiotics.
We now have alarming resistance among tuberculosis and typhoid causing bacteria.
These bugs are spreading from one hospital to another owing to lack of infection prevention strategy. The quality of more than 50 per cent of microbiology laboratories is below standard and has hardly any mechanism of proficiency testing.
The syllabus at medical colleges and nursing schools doesn`t lay stress on antibiotic stewardship and infection control.
Antibiotics are sold without prescription in pharmacies.
Our health system has to implement strategies like the training and implementation of infection control policies and practices, surveillance of antibiotic resistance on a national level, practisingantibiotic stewardship in humans and animals and enhancing the quality of lab technology with accuracy in reporting results. This silent epidemic can kill millions if it is not tackled.
