Need to urgently address overuse, misuse of antibiotics in humans, livestock: Dr. Haroon Hussain
M’luru: Dr. Haroon completes internationally recognized certification in Antimicrobial Stewardship
Mangalore, Karnataka: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is emerging as one of the most critical public health challenges of our time, threatening to undo decades of progress in treating infectious diseases. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics, not just in human healthcare but also in the veterinary and livestock industries, have led to a rapid rise in resistant bacteria. This growing crisis demands immediate and concerted action, especially in countries like India, where the situation is particularly alarming.
In India, the high burden of infectious diseases, combined with widespread and often unregulated access to antibiotics, has created a perfect storm for the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Antibiotics are frequently prescribed without proper diagnosis, and self-medication is common. Moreover, in the veterinary field, antibiotics are extensively used in the livestock industry, often as growth promoters, further exacerbating the problem. The result is a dangerous increase in drug-resistant infections, which are becoming harder to treat and leading to higher mortality rates.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified antimicrobial resistance as one of the top ten global health threats, warning that if no significant action is taken, AMR could cause millions of deaths annually by 2050. The situation in India mirrors this global trend, with resistant infections already leading to prolonged hospital stays, increased medical costs, and higher death rates.
Given the severity of the issue, there is an urgent need to train healthcare professionals in antimicrobial stewardship—a set of coordinated strategies to improve the use of antibiotics, promote responsible prescribing practices, and reduce the spread of resistance. Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASP) are essential in ensuring that antibiotics are used judiciously, with the right drug, at the right dose, for the right duration. These programs play a crucial role in preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics, safeguarding public health, and improving patient outcomes.
Recognizing the importance of antimicrobial stewardship, Dr. Haroon H, a consultant in internal medicine at KMC Hospital, Mangalore, has recently completed the Certification of Antimicrobial Stewardship for Healthcare Professionals. This certification, endorsed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the Clinical Infectious Disease Society of India (CIDS), equips healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to implement effective ASPs in their institutions.
In a statement, Dr. Haroon expressed his concern about the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance, emphasizing the need for healthcare workers to lead the fight against this global health crisis. "The misuse and overuse of antibiotics in both human healthcare and the veterinary sector are driving the alarming rise of drug-resistant infections. It's essential that we, as healthcare professionals, take urgent action to address this issue," he said.
Dr. Haroon also highlighted the importance of educating both patients and healthcare providers about the dangers of antibiotic misuse and the need for responsible prescribing practices. He believes that by promoting awareness and implementing robust antimicrobial stewardship programs, healthcare institutions can play a pivotal role in curbing the spread of resistance.
Throughout his training, Dr. Haroon had the opportunity to learn from some of the leading experts in the field, including Dr. Priscilla Rupali and Dr. Balaji Veeraraghavan from Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, and Dr. Priya Nori from the United States. These interactions, according to Dr. Haroon, greatly enriched his understanding of how to effectively implement antimicrobial stewardship practices in a clinical setting.
In recognition of his achievement, KMC Hospital took to its official X (formerly Twitter) handle to congratulate Dr. Haroon. The hospital wrote, "Congratulations to Dr. Haroon H., Asst Prof in the Dept of Medicine, for successfully completing the Certification in Antimicrobial Stewardship for Healthcare Professionals, endorsed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and @CidsIndia."
Dr. Haroon, who also serves as the Editor of the Indian Journal of Geriatric Care and is a national executive committee member of the Geriatric Society of India, reiterated the importance of collective efforts in addressing the AMR crisis. He urged all healthcare professionals to embrace their roles as stewards of antimicrobials to protect patients, preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics for future generations, and mitigate the impact of this global health challenge.
"The fight against antimicrobial resistance is not just about one person’s achievement but about the collective responsibility we all share as healthcare providers. By working together, we can safeguard public health and ensure that antibiotics remain a powerful tool in our medical arsenal for years to come," Dr. Haroon concluded.
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Rishabh Pant's troubles continue as Punjab Kings push LSG towards exit door
Dharamsala, May 4 (PTI): Rishabh Pant lost the grip on his bat and the match simultaneously as Punjab Kings rode on heroics from the two 'Singhs' -- Prabhsimran and Arshdeep -- to literally push Lucknow Super Giants to the brink of elimination with a 37-run win in an IPL match here on Sunday.
It was Prabhsimran's 48-ball 91 that formed the cornerstone of Punjab Kings' unassailable 236 for 5 and any hopes of a remarkable chase was nipped in the bud by Arshdeep's (3/16 in 4 overs) now familiar Powerplay spell which summarily destroyed the opposition top-order.
This time, he got the three top run getters -- Mitchell Marsh (0), Aiden Markram (13) and the ever-dangerous Nicholas Pooran (6) -- to swing the match decisively in Punjab's favour. Ayush Badoni's (74 off 40 balls) effort was a good one albeit it came for a losing cause.
LSG were finally restricted to 199 for 7 in 20 overs and even if they win their last three games and get to 16 points from 14 games, their net run-rate can make things difficult for them.
Punjab Kings are now placed second with 15 points from 11 games and one more win could possibly clinch a place in top four for them.
But what is becoming an eyesore is LSG's Rs 27 crore worth skipper Pant's inexplicable approach which has fetched him a dismal 128 runs in 11 innings at a sub-100 strike-rate (99.22).
On the day, he scored 18 off 17 balls and that he is completely out of sync was evident in the manner he tried to throw the proverbial kitchen sink at an Azmatullah Omarzai delivery. There was no control in his shot as the bat took off on parabolic curve towards square leg and the ball went towards deep point.
Pant's misery was a testimony of LSG's wretched campaign that was lost at the auction table when the owner decided to go with a sub-standard bowling attack based on a half-fit talented pacer Mayank Yadav.
Mayank has already lost at least 10-15 yards of pace post rehabilitation under the watch of Nitin Patel at the National Cricket Academy.
On Sunday, he went for 60 runs off four overs with half a dozen of sixes struck off his bowling.
The pint-sized Prabhsimran packed a mean punch in his strokes as he blasted his way to a 48-ball 91 with the help of six fours and seven sixes.
The Punjab keeper-batter should have got his second IPL hundred but an ambitious switch hit off Digvesh Rathi saw him head back to the pavilion, nine runs short of what would have been a deserving milestone.
Towards the end, Shashank Singh scored 33 off 15 balls to take PBKS to what looked like an unassailable total. There were 16 sixes hit by Pujab Kings with 13 coming off pacers.
Prabhsimran was initially a passive partner as it was Australian Jos Inglis who launched the first attack with a hat-trick of sixes off Mayank Yadav, whose speed has decreased by at least 15 kmph post his intense rehab under Nitin Patel at the BCCI's erstwhile National Cricket Academy to recover from back injury.
However, once Inglis was dismissed, Prabhsimran, along with skipper Shreyas Iyer (45 off 25 balls), took control of the game. They were only helped by some atrocious fielding from Avesh Khan, who would probably go down as the worst fielder in the 18-year history of IPL.
Adding insult to injury, Prabhsimran took the tall MP fast bowler to the cleaners as he was pulled over mid-wicket for back-to-back maximums. Khan went for 57 in four overs and if around 15 runs due to his misfielding is added, he caused the maximum damage for his team.
The duo of Prabhsimran and Iyer added 78 runs in 7.5 overs before Rathi, LSG's best bowler on view, became the first spinner in the current season to account for Punjab Kings skipper's wicket.
But Prabhsimran continued like a man possessed and LSG bowlers were guilty of feeding to his strengths throughout the innings.
