DoctorSpeak: When life-saving drugs become cause of worry

Few discoveries in modern medicine have saved as many lives as antibiotics. From curing pneumonia and treating tuberculosis to preventing infections after surgeries, antibiotics have been one of the greatest weapons of science against diseases.

Today, these life-saving drugs have become a cause of worry. Globally, doctors are seeing more and more infections that do not respond to commonly used antibiotics. This growing problem is known as antibiotic resistance, and is one of the biggest challenges to global health in the 21st century. Unless we act wisely, we may soon return to a time when even simple infections could become fatal.

Antibiotics are drugs that kill or stop the growth of bacteria, responsible for various diseases like typhoid, tuberculosis and urinary tract infections. They work by attacking different parts of the bacteria. It’s important to remember that antibiotics work only against bacteria, not against viruses. This means they are useless for common colds, flu, sore throats caused by viruses (Covid-19 was one such virus). Yet, many people still self-medicate themselves with antibiotics for these viral infections — one of the key reasons, the antibiotics resistance, is increasing rapidly.

Why it happens

Balbir Singh (52), a farmer from a village near Ferozepur, came to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Chandigarh, with high-grade fever and abdominal discomfort. He had a history of fever thrice in the past one year, getting treatment from general practitioners and sometimes even quacks, who gave him ‘pudi wali dawai’. However, since this ‘dawai’ was not effective this time, he came to GMCH. His blood culture reports showed growth of Salmonella Typhi, resistant to most commonly used antibiotics. As he had been given many antibiotics in the past, he had developed high antibiotics resistance. The results were alarming, showing resistance to third-generation cephalosporins (broad-spectrum antibiotics used to treat serious infections including meningitis, pneumonia, etc) as well as multi-drug resistance.

He had to be administered a high-end, newer class of antibiotics, often reserved for treating serious infections, usually caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens.

When antibiotics are used incorrectly and/or too often, bacteria learn to fight back. Some bacteria evolve naturally and develop changes (mutations) that help them survive antibiotic attacks. When people take antibiotics unnecessarily, these resistant bacteria survive while the sensitive ones die. Over time, only the resistant bacteria, termed ‘superbugs’, remain, no longer responding to the antibiotics that once killed them.

These resistant bacteria are not limited to hospitals anymore and can spread in the community through food, water and direct contact. Farmers often give antibiotics to cattle to promote faster growth or prevent diseases, which only adds to the problem. The resistant bacteria from animals can enter the human food chain and make infections harder to treat. Already, infections like tuberculosis, gonorrhoea and certain urinary tract infections are becoming harder, sometimes impossible, to cure with the existing antibiotics. The World Health Organisation has warned that antibiotic resistance could cause millions of deaths every year by 2050, and make even routine surgeries risky.

Judicious use is crucial

Every time we use antibiotics unnecessarily, we give bacteria another chance to develop resistance. Being ‘judicious’ means using antibiotics only when truly needed, in the right dose, and for the right duration.

A common fight

Antibiotic resistance is not just a doctor’s problem—it is everyone’s problem. Here are some key ways society can act together:

Public awareness: People need to understand when antibiotics are needed and when they are not. Schools, community groups and media can play a big role in spreading this message.

Better hygiene: Washing hands, using clean water and keeping surroundings clean can prevent infections and reduce the need for antibiotics in the first place.

Vaccination: It helps prevent bacterial diseases like pneumonia and typhoid, reducing the need for antibiotics.

Responsible use in animals/cattle: Farmers should use antibiotics only when animals are sick, not as growth promoters.

Research and innovation: Governments and pharmaceutical firms must invest in developing new drugs and diagnostic tools.

Stronger regulations: Antibiotics should only be sold with a valid prescription, and misuse in both humans and animals should be strictly controlled.

The way forward

The fight against antibiotic resistance requires a united effort — from doctors, patients, farmers, policymakers and the public. The solution lies not just in creating new drugs but in protecting the ones we already have.

Every time we use antibiotics wisely, we help preserve their power for future generations. Every time we misuse them, we risk losing that power forever. So, the next time you feel under the weather, remember: not every illness needs an antibiotic — but every antibiotic needs your respect. Together, through awareness and responsibility, we can ensure that these life-saving medicines continue to protect us for decades to come.

— The writer is Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh

— Do not use/ask for antibiotics for common/minor illness. Colds, coughs and most sore throats are caused by viruses. Taking antibiotics does not help you recover faster, it only harms in the long run.

— Complete the full course. Not taking the full course of prescribed antibiotics and stopping these drugs early because you feel better can allow the surviving bacteria to multiply and become resistant.

— Never share antibiotics or use leftover drugs from earlier illness. The medicine that worked for someone else’s infection might not be right for yours. Or the same/earlier antibiotic may not work for a different infection.

— Trust your doctor. Doctors decide on antibiotics based on evidence and tests. Don’t pressurise them for ‘stronger’ drugs.

— Avoid self-medication. Buying antibiotics over the counter or using old prescriptions can lead to wrong doses and incomplete treatment.

Factcheck: A recent study in Lancet ‘eClinical Medicine journal’ reveals that 83% of Indian patients carry multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). The study, which analysed over 1,200 patients across four countries, found that the MDRO carriage rate in Indian patients undergoing a common endoscopic procedure was the highest among all participating nations. The WHO GLASS report 2025 says that approximately one in three bacterial infections in India is resistant to common antibiotics, higher than the global average. Key factors include the overuse/misuse of antibiotics in humans and agriculture, OTC availability of antibiotics, and socioeconomic issues.