Antibiotic Misuse in Pakistan: A Silent Health Crisis

Pakistan is facing growing risks of antibiotic resistance caused by widespread misuse of antibiotics for various conditions.

Misuse of antibiotics enables bacteria to evolve in ways that make them resistant to treatment.

This makes acute diseases more difficult to manage and increases the risk of complications. Excessive use of antibiotics is driven by their availability without prescription, incomplete treatment courses, and self-medication.

Key Takeaways

• Antibiotic misuse is a growing health concern in Pakistan.
• It is led by self-medication and the over-the-counter, easy availability of antibiotics at local pharmacies.
• The biggest risk associated with excessive antibiotic use is antibiotic resistance, which makes common infections hard to treat.

Emerging Trend of Excessive Antibiotic Use in Pakistan

The use of antibiotics increased between 2000 and 2015 in low-income and developing countries. Pakistan also ranked among the highest globally in antibiotic consumption in these years due to unauthorized and non-prescriptive use.

Antibiotics are sold over the counter, allowing for self-medication for general conditions such as colds, flu, and sore throats.

As per one study, conducted in 2022 in Punjab, 96.9% of Pakistani pharmacies sold antibiotics without a prescription.

Other reasons also include accessibility and financial difficulty. However, Pakistan introduced the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in 2017. Still, there is a lack of surveillance, adequate enforcement, and stewardship programs, which leads to the exploitation of antibiotic consumption. 

Consequences of Excessive Use of Antibiotics

Consequences of the overuse of antibiotics are as follows:

1. Antibiotic Resistance

When antibiotics are consumed incorrectly or excessively, it leads to antibiotic resistance.

The WHO’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) and the Pakistan AMR Surveillance System (PASS) reported some troubling antibiotic resistance patterns in Pakistan that include extensively drug-resistant typhoid (XDR), first detected in 2016, that continues to limit treatment options today.

Additionally, the levels of resistance in common pathogens, such as E. coli, are high, which puts regular care for urinary and bloodstream infections at risk. 

2. Weakened Immunity

Recurrent and unnecessary drug courses can disrupt gut and respiratory bacteria that contribute to defense mechanisms against infection, potentially increasing vulnerability to other illnesses, as well as C. difficile-like conditions.

3. Masking of Underlying Illnesses

Unauthorized use of antibiotics can reduce symptoms temporarily, delaying the diagnosis of conditions, such as dengue, tuberculosis, and surgical conditions, until they become more difficult and expensive to treat. 

4. Adverse Effects

“Using antibiotics without prescription can trigger side effects and dangerous drug interactions,” warn doctors at Hameed Latif Hospital.

“Antibiotics can cause allergic reactions, disruption of the gut microbiome, diarrhea and yeast infections, and drug-drug interactions. These risks are exacerbated when you take antibiotics unnecessarily or stop their use abruptly,” they add.

Why Does It Matter to Public Health?

The misuse of antibiotics causes antibiotic resistance, which makes the treatment of common infections difficult, prolonged, and expensive. It also puts patients at risk of severe complications or even death.

Also Read: Throat Infection Medicines in Pakistan

This doesn’t only burden a healthcare system that is more than overwhelmed, but it also has a detrimental impact on immunity, whilst also making people more susceptible to future infections.

When antibiotics lose their effectiveness, even routine procedures such as surgery and childbirth become riskier.

What Can Be Done About It?

• To prevent antibiotic misuse, pharmacies must be prohibited from dispensing antibiotics without a valid prescription.
• Drug regulatory authorities must keep a strict check on the situation and penalize any violations.
• Lastly, the public needs to be educated regarding the irresponsible use of antibiotics and the serious health risks they carry.

Conclusion

In summary, the overuse of antibiotics in Pakistan is a growing concern that is leading to widespread cases of antibiotic resistance, severe side effects, and complicated infections that are difficult to treat.

We need to take urgent action through awareness, regulation and the responsible use of antibiotics to address the issue effectively and prevent it from escalating.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Can People Do to Stop Antibiotic Misuse?

People can play a role in fighting antibiotic misuse by avoiding self-medication, stopping the use of antibiotics for viral illness, finishing complete prescribed courses of antibiotics, and consulting their doctors promptly when feeling sick.

2. What Is the Impact of the Overuse of Antibiotics?

Antibiotic overuse leads to antibiotic resistance, creating significant problems in disease treatment, while also increasing the treatment costs. It can also make patients more vulnerable to other diseases.