Production, import and distribution of two types of antibiotics may be subject to a future ban for use in India’s farm animals, reports Economic Times. The two drugs — chloramphenicol and nitrofurans — are important treatments for urinary tract infections caused by bacteria in humans.
According to the source, the government is blaming antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and a resulting decline in antibiotic efficacy in human medicine on the overuse of these antibiotics in feeds for poultry and livestock.
At the recent EuroAsia 2024 in Bengaluru, India, several medical experts in critical care warned of the “significant and growing threat” of AMR in the country. It is estimated that AMR already accounts for the deaths of 1.2 million Indians annually. According to BW Healthcare World, this could rise to 10 million per year by 2050. Also to be expected are adverse health care outcomes and longer hospital stays.
Within human medicine, several speakers highlighted the need for enhanced antibiotic stewardship, improved surveillance systems and more effective prevention measures to help stop the spread of antibiotic-resistant “superbugs.” An issue of concern expressed by some of the experts is the excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics in India, according to the article.
