December 16, 2011
The Question
What is the current situation of antibiotic resistance in India and what actions can be taken to improve things?
What we found
Many people in India today are overusing antibiotics and using them in inappropriate circumstances, contributing to high levels of drug resistance. Recommendations for reversing this trend include prioritizing national surveillance of antibiotic use and resistance, increasing use of diagnostic tests before prescription, improving infection control communities in hospitals, and limiting the use of antibiotics in agriculture.
Why it matters
India has one of the highest levels of bacterial disease in the world, necessitating the use of antibiotics in the nation. However, use of antibiotics without adherence to regulatory guidelines has contributed to the rise of antibiotic resistance in India, a painful, and expensive burden on the country. The policies recommended here aim to alleviate this burden.
