New Delhi [India], January 1 (ANI): Renowned cardiac surgeon and Narayana Health Founder-Chairman Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty has welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warning against the misuse of antibiotics, highlighting the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in India.
In his recent ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address, PM Modi cited an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) report to underscore how indiscriminate antibiotic use is driving AMR, making common infections increasingly difficult to treat. Dr. Shetty echoed these concerns, describing AMR as a looming crisis that could push medicine back to a “pre-penicillin era.”
Speaking to ANI, Dr. Shetty explained that antimicrobial resistance means that even serious infections may no longer respond to existing antibiotics. Reflecting on his 36 years of medical practice, he said, “In the first 15 years, after heart surgeries, patients were given antibiotics for just two days. Infection was rarely a concern. But over the past decade, the situation has changed drastically. Today, our greatest fear during complex surgeries is infection, because most common antibiotics no longer kill bacteria due to rampant overuse.”
Dr. Shetty noted that misuse often occurs when people demand antibiotics for minor illnesses such as colds, coughs, or fever, accelerating bacterial resistance. He warned that developing new antibiotics is costly and slow, and even new drugs could quickly become ineffective given current consumption patterns.
“Refrain from taking antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription and never insist on them,” he advised. “If the doctor feels you need antibiotics, they will prescribe them. Otherwise, avoid them. If this is ignored, we risk running out of effective antibiotics and returning to the pre-penicillin era.”
Dr. Shetty’s message emphasizes responsible antibiotic use as a critical step to prevent a public health crisis driven by antimicrobial resistance. (ANI)
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