Dubai- Indiscriminate use of antibiotics in the emirates is increasing bacteria resistance to the drugs, members of the UAE medical community said.
The mcr-1 gene, found in a range of common bacteria such as E coli, enables the resistance to the last fully functional class of antibiotics, known as polymyxins. The resistance factor can also be transferred from one bacterium to another.
Dr Babu Shershad, Internist and CEO of First Medical Centre, said using antibiotics for common ailments, such as colds or minor skin infections, is unnecessary.
“The key is for hospitals and clinics to set a formal policy so that the drugs do not become ineffective when a patient is actually in need of the antibiotic,” said Dr Shershad.
He explained that in some clinics vancomycin is used for minor infections when it should be given to patients with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) symptoms.
“MRSA infections can cause abscises and high fever, symptoms that require vancomycin, but if there is resistance, the patient’s body will not respond,” said Dr Shershad.
He clarified that with bacteria transferring the resistance factor, this can reach epidemic proportions. The second reason is the indirect pressure on doctors, said Dr Sonia Gupte, General Practitioner at iCare Clinics, Dubai.
“We as doctors reserve broad-spectrum antibiotics for serious illnesses. However, they can be bought easily over the counter from pharmacies,” she said. “Patients automatically link antibiotics with getting better, which is incorrect.”
Dr Sonia clarified that lack of education is also the reason why patients overuse antibiotics. She also said that the burden on doctors is increasing since resistance is increasing and appropriate treatment is scarce.
“There haven’t been any new antibiotics introduced into the market for the past 10 years or more, which is alarming because resistance is increasing yet there aren’t any new antibiotics to tackle it,” added Dr Sonia.
She also said she believes much of the resistance is as a result of misuse and lack of control on antibiotics. Dr Sonia added that the public should not be concerned about animals or people carrying bugs called Enterobacteriaceae, containing the resistance gene.
