ACCORDING to the World Health Organisation, global deaths from drug resistant infections are predicted to rise from the current 700,000 per year to 10 million by 2050. We are already seeing a steep rise in multi-drug resistant typhoid in the last three years in Pakistan, so how did we get here?

The discovery of antibiotics revolutionised medicine, giving a cure for many previously deadly infections caused by pathogens called bacteria. Unfortunately, as bacteria are able to reproduce rapidly, this gives them the advantage to also adapt to their surrounding environments rapidly; therefore, when we constantly expose bacteria to antibiotics, they start developing resistance. The human body is covered with friendly bacteria with whom we have a symbiotic relationship.

They live on us and prevent more invasive bacteria from settling in and protect us from infections that way. However, every time we take antibiotics, we decolonise our body not just of the invaders, but also of the friendly bacteria. This in turn leaves spaces open for more aggressive forms of bacteria to settle in and reproduce.

The more antibiotics we use, the more drug resistant forms of bacteria will evolve, till eventually we end up with once simple infections becoming untreatable. Bacteria are also not selective, so you may never have had a single dose of antibiotics in your life, but still develop a drug resistant infection!

Other contributors to drug resistance development is the massive over use of antibiotics in agriculture. It is vital to remember that not all infections are caused by bacteria; many are caused by viruses against which antibiotics have absolutely no affect!

Example of viral infections are the common cold, and viral tonsillitis. Colds can get bad, and if you have the flu it will knock you off your feet, but it is still a viral infection and doesn’t need antibiotics. So, we must stop treating viral infections with antibiotics and always go see your doctor if you are concerned.

Dr Anokhi Khanum

Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2019