The overuse of antibiotics causes serious public health problems, including antimicrobial resistance, increased health care costs, reduced antibiotic effectiveness, the spread of agriculturally resistant pathogens and the risk of untreatable infections, highlighting the need for education and training about the overuse of antibiotics, nephrologists say.
Uncertainty about use, overprescribing, undertreatment, lack of regulation, agricultural practices, public ignorance, and insufficient drug development are some of the factors that lead to the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, leading to a global crisis. antibiotic resistance and health risks.
Nephrologists are alert, internal organs such as kidneys, liver, and nervous system are more likely to suffer.
According to them, kidney damage is the most common cause of antibiotic abuse.
Dr. MV Rao, a nephrologist at the Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology (AINU) in Hyderabad, told IANS that the biggest culprit prevalent in India is the over-the-counter sale of antibiotics, leading to their overuse and misuse.
Dr. PS Wali, another nephrologist, said, “Wide prescription of antibiotics and failure to complete the full course of antibiotics are the main contributors to chronic kidney damage and the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections.”
This is especially true for people with kidney conditions or genetic predispositions. This happens with certain antibiotics like Amikacin or Gentamicin,” said Dr. B. Srikanth.
Due to their unique genetic makeup, some people are prone to hypersensitivity reactions in the kidneys when exposed to antibiotics from the penicillin group, such as amoxicillin.
Another consequence is life-threatening urinary tract infections caused by multidrug-resistant microbes that can cause sepsis if they mix with blood in the urine.
Such infections lead to a condition known as acute kidney injury, in which septic blood fills the defect and invades the kidney and removes its filter.
The nephrology community has emphasized the need to take several measures to protect against the adverse effects of the judicious use of antibiotics. They say it is important to raise public awareness about proper use.
They say antimicrobial stewardship programs are needed to strengthen the effective use of antimicrobials, including antibiotics. The goal is to improve patient outcomes, reduce antimicrobial resistance, and prevent infections with drug-resistant organisms.
This program guides healthcare providers in selecting the appropriate antibiotic, dose, duration, and method of administration. Experts have called for stricter rules against over-the-counter antibiotics.
Healthcare providers should follow established national and international guidelines for prescribing antibiotics. This includes avoiding unnecessary prescriptions and ensuring correct dosage and duration.
According to nephrologists, there should be a focus on research and development of new antibiotics that can reduce overreaction to existing ones and thus reduce the risk of resistance.
These interventions require the joint efforts of healthcare professionals, policy makers, the pharmaceutical industry, and the community.
It is also important that these strategies are tailored to meet the specific needs and circumstances of regions and health care systems.
