Via The Times of India: Extensive use of antibiotics may lead Kolkata to a disaster. Excerpt:
KOLKATA: Multi-drug resistant bacteria - triggered by rampant and injudicious use of antibiotics - are on the prowl in the city. They're affecting more than half of the patients across city hospitals and can lead to a crisis unless measures are taken immediately to identify the bacteria and regulate the prescription of antibiotics, according to the "Task Force for Antibiotic Stewardship" formed by doctors from five hospitals in Kolkata.
Samples collected by the task force reveal that a bacteria similar to the metallo-beta-lactamese-1 or NDM 1, that wreaked havoc in New Delhi a few years ago, could be prevalent in Kolkata as well. The 'superbug' is resistant to all known antibiotics.
Analysis of data and bacteria samples collected by the task force from KPC Medical College, Medica Superspecialty, Fortis, DM Hospital, Ruby Hospital and the Saroj Gupta Cancer Research Centre has revealed the presence of several drug-resistant bugs. It's alarming, say members of the task force who are now busy identifying the resistance pattern among bacteria.
"There is a very high prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria, particularly in the tertiary care hospitals where patients are treated with multiple anti-biotics. We have identified one that is either NDM 1 or very similar to it. Conventional treatment would be futile if such bacteria are allowed to flourish. The only solution is to restrict the use of anti-biotics through a comprehensive policy that would be adopted across all city hospitals," said Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhuri, consultant microbiologist at Fortis Hospital who is a member of the task force.
An IT firm is collecting the data from treatment records of the hospitals. While the task force is trying to rope in the government hospitals as well, none has yet joined the task force.
"We are trying to collect their data as well for they treat the largest number of patients in the city. An anti-biotic policy can't be framed unless we include government hospitals," said Chaudhuri.
