Bacterial and fungal pathogens isolated from Covid-19 patients hospitalised for a long time showed 35% patients had poly-microbial infections- and 8.4% had both bacterial and fungal infections, shared Dr Kamini Walia. We also saw 60-70% mortality in Covid-19 patients who acquired drug-resistant infections during their hospital stay. A lot of broad spectrum antimicrobials were used in treatment of hospitalised Covid-19 patients, which could lead to a bigger epidemic unfolding in India next year onwards.
Connecting the dots: Antimicrobial resistance, human health, food systems, animal health, and environment
Dr Haileysus Getahun, Director of the Department of Global Coordination and Partnership on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) at the WHO said that "having good infection control is key to controlling antimicrobial resistance. So if infection control is good along with water, sanitation and hygiene - in clinical settings, veterinary settings and in food producing settings - it will help to stop the spread of infection and this in turn will reduce the use of antimicrobials to treat those infections. Use of poor quality drugs and/or unnecessary use of antimicrobials in humans, animals and in food production is also fuelling antimicrobial resistance."
Dr Haileyesus Getahun is also the Director of Joint Tripartite Secretariat on antimicrobial resistance (comprising of United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization - FAO, World Organization for Animal Health - OIE and WHO) that coordinates the joint work of the organisations across the #OneHealth spectrum. He said "Antimicrobial resistance is a complex problem that demands a comprehensive, multisectoral response. It is to be addressed through different mechanisms -including regulations and also by enhancing the robustness of the human and veterinary health systems to make sure that antimicrobials are prescribed based upon the needs and not due to oversight of the trained medical professionals."
Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant - CNS (Citizen News Service)
(Shobha Shukla and Bobby Ramakant are part of Editorial team at CNS (Citizen News Service) and Asha Parivar. Follow them on Twitter @Shobha1Shukla and @BobbyRamakant)
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