Widespread antibiotic resistance in SE Asia: WHO

Resistance to cephalosporins in K-pneumoniae is also high and widespread

Antibiotic resistance is widespread in most parts of the world, making it a major threat to public health, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its report Antimicrobial Resistance: Global Report on Surveillance.

The WHO study is focused on antibiotic resistance in seven different bacteria responsible for common and serious diseases such as bloodstream infections, diarrhoea, pneumonia, urinary tract infections and gonorrhea.

Antibiotic resistance is a burgeoning problem in Southeast Asia, home to a quarter of the world's population, the report said. Two commonly-used third generation antibiotics, cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones, have developed high levels of E coli resistance in this region.

Resistance to cephalosporins in K-pneumoniae (a bacterium that causes life-threatening infections) is also high and widespread. In some parts, more than a quarter of S aureus (a bacterium) infections are reported methicillin-resistant, the study said.

This means treatment with standard antibiotics have minimal chances of succeeding in this region.

The findings suggest treatments with standard antibiotics often fail to work in Africa, Asia, North and South Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Pacific regions and Europe.

While the report acknowledges some countries have taken steps towards addressing the problem, it says many lack basic systems to track and monitor the problem.

In India, the drug regulator had recently ordered surprise checks at pharmaceutical stores to keep a check on antibiotic sales. The regulator also asked state drug inspectors to monitor all retail outlets to avoid misuse of antibiotics.