Drug-resistant infections, also known as antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections, are caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi that no longer respond to the medicines designed to get rid of them. In simple terms, it means the usual antibiotics or antifungal drugs stop working, making infection to treat much harder.
Hospitals, particularly ICUs, treat patients with compromised immune systems who frequently need antibiotics and life-sustaining devices such as ventilators and catheters. Such environments require increased infection control since they have higher rates of germ entry into the body.
Why is this a Growing Concern?
In India, one of the main reasons behind drug-resistant infections is the large-scale usage of antibiotics, especially due to self-medication. Several individuals use antibiotics without medical checkups, most commonly for viral conditions such as colds or the flu where antibiotics may not work.
Others discontinue taking medication once they begin to feel better, rather than finishing the course of treatment. This allows bacteria to overcome, survive, and become resistant.
Therefore, infections that are previously easily curable such as a wound infection, urinary tract infection, or pneumonia can become multi-drug resistant (MDR), becoming more difficult, slower, and expensive to treat.
One such case that put India in the global spotlight for its emerging AMR situation was when NDM-1 (New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1), pan-resistant bacteria, was detected.
Pan-resistant bacteria indicate the bacteria are resistant to all classes of antibiotics available to them, leaving physicians with hardly any treatment options.
NDM-1 was originally detected in 2008 in an Indian-origin patient residing in Sweden who had undergone treatment in New Delhi for an infection of the urinary tract caused by a carbapenem-resistant strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae with the NDM-1 gene.
According to WHO, if left unaddressed, antimicrobial resistance may kill 10 million people every year by 2050, more than cancer and may drive 24 million people into abject poverty because of extended hospital stays, costly treatments, and lost productivity.
The danger is not only clinical but also economic and societal. Hence, once easily treated infections such as wound infections, urinary tract infections, or pneumonia may become multi-drug resistant (MDR) or even pan-drug resistant, putting serious risks and costs on the line.
One crucial thing all patients can do is provide their physician with their entire antibiotic history. If you've had antibiotics recently, even for a cold or something else seemingly minor, informing your health provider can be a huge step toward the right treatment and avoiding resistance from worsening.
Drug-resistant infections aren't only a healthcare concern but a public obligation. Honest use of antibiotics and willingness to discuss things openly with physicians can make a difference.
How do these Infections Spread and Who is at Risk?
Drug-resistant infections are always transmitted from person to person by unwashed hands, contaminated surfaces, or reused medical devices. These infections are harder to treat and more complex, as normal medicines do not function as effectively against them and can lead to serious complications if not managed properly.
This can attack anyone, but some patients are more at risk due to their condition or illness. Groups that are more vulnerable to such infections are those who:
- Have spent a long time in the hospital, particularly in the ICU
- Have a weakened immune system due to illness or treatment
- Have recently had surgery or have an open wound
- Are put on medical devices like ventilators, catheters, or IV lines
- Have been on antibiotics frequently or for long durations
- Have self-medicated with antibiotics or taken them without a prescription
What can Patients and Families do?
Although the medical staff strives to avoid these infections, patients and families can do their part too. Here’s what can be done-
- Be informed about Antibiotics - If you or a loved one are given antibiotics, ask why it's necessary and if it's really needed. Smart use of antibiotics helps prevent resistance and ensures better outcomes.
- Practice Good Hand Hygiene - Don't be afraid to tell doctors, nurses, or visitors to wash their hands or sanitize before they touch the patient.
- Adhere to Doctor's Instructions strictly - Finish the entire course of prescribed medicines even if you're feeling better.
- Say Something if Something Doesn't Feel Right - If you see infection causes fever, redness around wounds, or altered breathing, report it to the healthcare staff. Early warning leads to big differences.
Drug-resistant infections are perhaps the most pressing health threat that we all face across the world, and they're no longer unusual. But the good news is, action and awareness count.
Whatever your role is, patient, caregiver, or concerned family member, your decisions count. Be informed. Ask questions. Always look out for medical guidance. And never be afraid to voice your concerns about hygiene or treatment.
And in the battle against drug resistance, we all have a part to play. And together, we can guard the strength of medicines that save lives, today and for generations to come.
