Dr. Neetu Mittal, a senior consultant specializing in infection control and microbiology at Sarvodaya Hospital in Faridabad, has issued a warning regarding the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). She identifies significant problems in antibiotic regulation and the failure to properly implement infection control measures, exacerbating this urgent global health challenge.
“Antimicrobial resistance is an underappreciated threat on the horizon. The overprescription and improper use of antibiotics, both in healthcare and agriculture, combined with insufficient regulatory oversight, are steering us towards a scenario where common ailments may become resistant to treatment,” cautions Dr. Mittal.
She points out several major hurdles in fighting AMR. The practice of incorporating unnecessary antibiotics in animal feed for growth enhancement remains largely unchecked in numerous places.
The scale-up of industrial farming, along with insufficient regulatory frameworks, has allowed such practices to persist. Public misunderstandings, coupled with misconceptions among medical professionals about the ineffectiveness of antibiotics against viral infections, further drive their unwarranted usage.
Dr. Mittal stresses the importance for India to craft its own National Action Plan (NAP) based on local epidemiological insights and socio-economic conditions. She advocates for the One Health approach, which addresses AMR by focusing on the health interconnections between humans, animals, and the environment.
Dr. Mittal recommends comprehensive plans to tackle AMR, such as enforcing robust antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) in medical facilities, involving collaborative teams of microbiologists, pharmacists, infection control officers, and physicians, conducting public education initiatives on the risks of antibiotic misuse, promoting alternative prescriptions in cases of viral infections like the common cold or mild fevers, prohibiting needless antibiotics in animal feed, and enhancing animal health through improved diet, biosecurity, and waste management to reduce antibiotic dependency.
Additionally, there’s an immediate need for community actions like regulating non-prescription antibiotic sales in pharmacies and correcting the false belief that antibiotics are effective against viral or fungal infections.
Dr. Mittal advocates for strategic investments in animal and environmental health systems to enable India to significantly contribute to international One Health endeavors. Awareness campaigns targeting farmers and the general populace are vital to bridging knowledge gaps and encouraging behavioral changes.
“Antimicrobial resistance is a shared responsibility,” emphasizes Dr. Mittal. “From medical professionals to agriculturalists, policymakers, and citizens, we must all contribute to managing this issue.”
While AMR poses a universal problem, Dr. Mittal highlights the necessity of tailored solutions, declaring, “We require data-driven actions at every level of healthcare—primary, secondary, and tertiary. Targeted approaches will be essential to minimizing antibiotic overuse and improving health outcomes.”
Dr. Mittal concludes, “Combating AMR demands swift and coordinated efforts. Hesitation now results in steep costs later—for health, economic stability, and sustainable progress.”