Emphasising that the risk of Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) is as serious as global warming, doctors warned of the need for public awareness. They said that animal-borne infections are on the rise, and not all antibiotics will work for treatment.
The increasing spread of infections transmitted through animals is a major concern. The doctors also pointed out that more medicines are becoming ineffective because bacteria is developing resistance.
The Clinical Infectious Diseases Society’s (CIDS) 14th Annual Conference, CIDSCON 2024, commenced on Friday at the HICC Novotel in the city.
This conference is conducted for discussing the latest developments and challenges in managing infectious diseases, with a focus on India. The doctors announced that this year’s conference highlights two major public health threats in India: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Emerging Infections. Antimicrobial Resistance: A Silent Pandemic.
An 8-member team of expert doctors from across the country explained that AMR continues to be a silent pandemic with serious consequences, which has one of the highest rates of drug-resistant infections (DRIs). Currently, about 1 million AMR-related deaths occur in India each year, contributing to an estimated 5 million deaths globally.
Projections suggest that by 2050, AMR could cause 10 million deaths annually, crossing the deaths caused by cancer.
Infectious Diseases Specialist, Apollo Hyderabad, Dr.Suneetha Nagireddy said the rise of AMR is caused by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics which is also making many medical treatments ineffective.
She also said that antibiotics should not be used for every infection, like a cold or cough, as these can heal naturally. Using antibiotics too often will lead to overuse, making it harder to manage without them later.
Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr Subramanian Swaminathan from Gleneagles Global Hospital, Chennai, said that every hospital uses antibiotics, and the change must start with physicians.
