Superbugs are microorganisms that are resistant to antimicrobials, and they pose a looming global health crisis. In fact, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) renders treatments ineffective, making infections harder to cure — significantly increasing mortality rates.
Globally, over 1.2 million people die annually due to drug-resistant infections, a figure projected to reach 10 million by 2050 if left unaddressed. This issue threatens the foundation of modern medicine, from routine surgeries to life-saving procedures, and requires immediate and coordinated corrective action.
So how did we get here? AMR stems primarily from misuse and overuse of antimicrobials. In India, freely accessible antibiotics have led to widespread self-medication, over-prescription, and use of improper dosages. The country leads globally in antibiotic consumption, which doubled between 2000 and 2015. This, coupled with insufficient regulation, fuels the rise of superbugs.
Inadequate diagnostic tools often lead to needless antibiotic prescriptions, particularly when there’s a failure to distinguish between bacterial and viral infections. In many regions, antibiotics are sold without prescription, exacerbating misuse. Public awareness campaigns often fail to reach underserved communities, leaving large sections of the population unaware of AMR’s dangers.
Additionally, insufficient funding for research and limited healthcare infrastructure hinder the development of new treatments and AMR monitoring.
There are multiple challenges confronting efforts to curb AMR. Weak healthcare systems struggle to monitor resistance patterns effectively. Furthermore, pharmaceutical companies show little interest in developing new antibiotics due to high costs and uncertain profits. These challenges allow AMR to grow unchecked, creating what experts call a ‘silent pandemic’.
Systemic change
Without systemic change, minor infections may become life-threatening, and routine medical procedures could carry grave risks.
Targeting healthcare providers could be a solution as they, especially doctors, play a critical role in combating AMR. Strict antimicrobial protocols can drastically reduce unnecessary prescriptions. For instance, Cloudnine implemented policies to limit surgical antibiotic use. Initially adherence rates were low (0–20 per cent), but through education, monitoring, and data sharing, compliance increased to 60–100 per cent. Over 16 years, this initiative has averted nearly two million unnecessary antibiotic doses, demonstrating the potential impact of stewardship programmes.
If scaled nationally, such programmes could significantly reduce antibiotic misuse. Adhering to international guidelines, such as those from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Indian Council of Medical Research, can ensure antibiotics are used only when necessary, reducing the risk of resistance.
Global emergency
AMR is a global emergency that requires urgent, multi-sectoral intervention. Governments must enforce stricter regulation on antibiotic sales and distribution, in human medicine and agriculture.
Healthcare providers must prioritise stewardship programmes and patient education to minimise unnecessary prescriptions. And public awareness campaigns on the dangers of antimicrobial misuse must be intensified. Simultaneously, increased funding is essential to develop new antibiotics, rapid diagnostic tools, and alternative treatments. Incentivising research can drive pharmaceutical companies to invest in this critical area.
Countries, too, must collaborate to share data, create unified strategies, and implement global responses to AMR. Without immediate action, the superbug crisis could eclipse even the most severe health emergencies of our time.
Together, we can prevent AMR from reversing decades of medical progress and ensure a safer, healthier future. The time to act is now.
(The writer is Director of Medical Services, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals. Views are personal)