THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Antimicrobial Resistance Strategic Action Plan (KARSAP) expert committee has found out that buying and consuming antibiotics without doctor's prescription has increased by 20 percent in Kerala after the Covid period. Due to this, the body's resistance to antibiotics increases and reaches a situation that antibiotics won’t be effective. This will have side effects especially on children and might lead to getting infected with several diseases frequently.
The medicines prescribed by doctors during Covid period are being bought again and used by people as per their will. The KARSAP Expert Committee has decided to ban the sale of antibiotics without a doctor's prescription. Licenses of pharmacies that violate the law will be revoked. Regular inspections will be conducted. The Drug Control Department should ensure that shops do not overstock such drugs.
Antibiotics such as Azithromycin and Amoxicillin are widely misused. This was also pointed out in the Antibiogram Surveillance Report released by Kerala for the first time in India to know the level of antibiotic resistance in Kerala and to codify prevention activities.
Effects of overuse
Carbapenem is dangerous
The Health department is evaluating whether carbapenems, the most powerful antibiotics, cause infections in the blood that are resistant to other drugs. Antibiotics won’t work for those who have this, so it is declared as a separately notifiable condition. It has been directed to inform the health department if such cases are found in the hospitals. Carbapenems are given to patients in ICU and ventilators.
"Awareness programs will be conducted as part of intensifying activities for antibiotic literacy.”, said Health Minister Veena George.
HOME
LATEST
NOTIFIED NEWS
POLL
KERALA 
EDITORIAL 
INDIA 
WORLD 
CINEMA 
SPORTS 
LIFESTYLE 
SPECIAL 
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 
| 
