21 Aug 2024: Recognizing the importance of antimicrobial stewardship, Dr. Haroon Husain, a consultant in internal medicine at KMC Hospital, Mangalore (Karnataka), has recently completed the Certification of Antimicrobial Stewardship for Healthcare Professionals. This certification, endorsed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the Clinical Infectious Disease Society of India (CIDS), equips healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to implement effective ASPs in their institutions.
As per Vartha Bharati, Dr. Haroon expressed his concern about the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance, emphasizing the need for healthcare workers to lead the fight against this global health crisis. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics have led to a rapid rise in resistant bacteria, he says. This growing crisis demands immediate and concerted action, especially in countries like India, where the situation is particularly alarming. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is emerging as one of the most critical public health challenges of our time, threatening to undo decades of progress in treating infectious diseases, he adds.
In India, the high burden of infectious diseases, combined with widespread and often unregulated access to antibiotics, has created a perfect storm for the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Antibiotics are frequently prescribed without proper diagnosis, and self-medication is common. The result is a dangerous increase in drug-resistant infections, which are becoming harder to treat and leading to higher mortality rates.
Dr. Haroon, who also serves as Editor of the Indian Journal of Geriatric Care and is a national executive committee member of the Geriatric Society of India, reiterated the importance of collective efforts in addressing the AMR crisis. He urged all healthcare professionals to embrace their roles as stewards of antimicrobials to protect patients, preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics for future generations, and mitigate the impact of this global health challenge.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified antimicrobial resistance as one of the top ten global health threats, warning that if no significant action is taken, AMR could cause millions of deaths annually by 2050. The situation in India mirrors this global trend, with resistant infections already leading to prolonged hospital stays, increased medical costs, and higher death rates.
