Desi Antibiotic Under Trial in Europe Saves Woman’s Life

What’s in today’s article:

• About antimicrobial resistance
• News Summary

Why in news?

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified WCK5222, a made in India medicine currently undergoing clinical trials in various European countries, as a promising antibiotic under investigation.
• Developed by Aurangabad based Wockhardt Research Centre, the drug has recently saved the life of a Nepali national infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa – a gram-negative bacteria resistant to all antibiotics.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR):

• Background: Antimicrobials – including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics – are medicines used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals and plants.
• About AMR:
  • AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines (develops drug resistance).
  • This makes infections increasingly difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
  • They can spread from person to person or between people and animals, including from food of animal origin.
  • The rapid global spread of multi and pan-drug resistant bacteria – “superbugs,” is particularly concerning.
  • As a result, WHO recently identified AMR as a major public health threat.
    • This is a major concern because a resistant infection may kill, can spread to others, and imposes huge costs to individuals and society.
• The main drivers of AMR include:
  • The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials;
  • Lack of access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for both humans and animals;
  • Poor infection and disease prevention and control in health-care facilities and farms;
  • Poor access to quality, affordable medicines, vaccines and diagnostics;
  • Lack of awareness and knowledge; and
  • Lack of enforcement of legislation.
• Measures taken to address challenges posed by anti-microbial resistance (AMR) in India
  • AMR surveillance network has been strengthened by establishing labs in State Medical College.
  • National action plan on containment of Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) focusing on One Health approach was launched in April 2017 with the aim of involving various stakeholder ministries/departments.
  • Delhi Declaration on AMR– an inter-ministerial consensus was signed by the ministers of the concerned ministries pledging their support in AMR containment.
  • AMR Research & International Collaboration: ICMR has taken initiatives to develop new drugs /medicines through international collaborations in order to strengthen medical research in AMR.
  • Government of India has taken following initiatives to increase awareness about antibiotics misuse:
    • ICMR has initiated antibiotic stewardship program (AMSP) to control misuse and overuse of antibiotics in hospital wards and ICUs.
    • DCGI has banned 40 fixed dose combinations (FDCs) which were found inappropriate.
    • Various IEC activities like public conclave, poster and quiz competitions have been conducted by National Centre for Disease Control.

News Summary:

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• Antibiotic or antimicrobial resistance is on the rise in India, where antibiotics are frequently self-administered or prescribed by pharmacies.
• Resistance level is increasing by 5% to 10% every year for broad-spectrum antimicrobials.
• Multi-drug resistance is common in infections with gram-negative bacterias such as Acinetobacter baumanii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in India.
• The 6th detailed report on AMR trends published by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) revealed that carbapenem, a strong antibiotic used to treat pneumonia and septicemia, is no longer beneficial to many ICU patients.
• New treatment alternatives for multi or extremely drug-resistant pathogens are urgently needed.