Alternative antibiotics to treat infections are losing effectiveness gradually due to the rise in antibiotic resistance and inappropriate intake of the life saving drugs, said a new study on Monday.
Furthermore, the rate of hospital-sourced infections is increasing at an alarming rate in Bangladesh, said health specialists sharing another recent study published in The Lancet journal.
The study findings were revealed at a seminar held at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) on Monday.
The study was conducted on the presence of harmful microbes in the human body, the effectiveness of antibiotics in killing microbes, and the antimicrobial sensitivity of all types of microbes.
BSMMU Department of Microbiology and Immunology published this report through a dissemination ceremony.
The study shared the report of antimicrobial susceptibility of all types of pathogens in patient samples of the department from January 2022 to July 2023.
BSMMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr. Md. Sharfuddin Ahmed addressing the event as the chief guest called for not selling antibiotics in pharmacies without a prescription from a registered doctor.
Antibiotics are being updated regularly, so doctors should know the latest status of antibiotic effectiveness. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics should be prevented socially and administratively, he urged.
BSMMU Associate Professor Dr Shaheda Anwar presented the study report. A total 72,670 samples were examined in the study and the number of positive bacteria cultured from January 2022 to June 2023 was 15,751 (21.67 per cent).
"Alternative antibiotics to treat infections are becoming less effective. However, there was no significant change in the susceptibility trends of all the tested antibiotics compared to the previous study," he added in his presentation adding that sensitivity was also observed in fungal pathogens, antifungal.
Associate Prof Dr. Fazle Rabbi Chowdhury, Department of Internal Medicine, BSMMU, focused on the challenges of antibiotic use and effectiveness in treating infectious diseases.
He also provided information on two recent papers published in The Lancet journal on antimicrobial resistance. According to his research article in the journal, about 1.3 million people died in 2019 due to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
Analysis of data from Bangladesh and South Asia has shown some bacteria to be of future concern, he added.
These are MDR TB, Quinolone antibiotic resistant typhoid, ESBL producing E.coli and Klebsiella infections and Carbapenam resistant Enterococci infections.
In addition, special care should be taken in the use of antibiotics in children with pneumonia, sepsis and antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infections. Also, the rate of hospital-acquired infections is increasing at an alarming rate in Bangladesh, he added.
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