Latest news with #antibiotics
Health Line
a day ago
- Health
- Health Line
What Are the Most Effective Natural Antibiotics?
Certain plant extracts, essential oils, and even foods have antibiotic properties. For example, some food and vegetable extracts can prevent the growth of bacteria in food. This includes garlic, honey, and certain herbs. Antibiotics are used to kill or inhibit bacteria growth. Although you might think of antibiotics as modern medicine, they've actually been around for centuries. Like many of today's antibiotics, the original antibiotics are derived from natural sources. Sometimes, the properties of these natural sources extend beyond the food and can aid in your personal hygiene. Cranberry extract contains antibacterial and antioxidant compounds, making it a home remedy for urinary tract infections (UTIs). Herbs can be antibiotics, too. A small sampling study of 58 Chinese plants found that 23 had antibacterial properties and 15 had antifungal properties. A 2014 study found that an herbal therapy was just as effective as a chemical antibiotic in treating a small intestine bacterial overgrowth disorder. Keep reading to learn about five natural remedies with antibiotic effects you can try at home. Honey Honey is one of the oldest known antibiotics, dating to ancient times. Egyptians frequently used honey as a natural antibiotic and skin protectant. Honey contains hydrogen peroxide, which may account for some of its antibacterial properties. It also has a high sugar content, which can help stop the growth of certain bacteria. Additionally, honey has a low pH level. This works to pull moisture away from bacteria, causing them to become dehydrated and die off. To use honey as an antibiotic, apply it directly to the wound or infected area. The honey can help kill off the bacteria and aid in the healing process. If possible, opt for raw Manuka honey. This form of honey offers the most health benefits. You can also ingest honey to aid in the treatment of internal infections. For a soothing treat, simply swallow a whole tablespoon or stir it into a warm cup of herbal tea. Honey is generally safe to use on the skin or in the body, though you should never give honey to an infant under a year old. Instead, consult your healthcare professional for an appropriate alternative. Garlic extract Garlic has long been thought to have antimicrobial properties. A 2021 review concluded that the organosulfur compounds in garlic are effective against a wide variety of bacteria. You can purchase garlic concentrate or extract at your local health food store. You may also be able to make your own by soaking a few garlic cloves in olive oil. Garlic is generally safe to ingest, but large doses might cause internal bleeding. Up to two cloves per day is considered an acceptable dosage. If you're taking a garlic supplement, be sure to follow the dosage directions as provided. If you're taking blood-thinning medication, consult your healthcare provider before using garlic as an antibiotic. Large doses of garlic can amplify the effects of this medication. You can also apply garlic concentrate directly to a wound or blemish. Myrrh extract Many people are familiar with myrrh, but its ability to ward off harmful germs is less well-known. Researchers in a 2000 study concluded that an extract of myrrh could kill off several everyday pathogens. This includes: E. coli Staphylococcus aureus Pseudomonas aeruginosa Candida albicans A 2020 in vitro study found that myrrh oil preferentially kills nongrowing bacteria without the organisms building any resistance. Typically, nongrowing bacteria tend to be more antibiotic-resistant than growing bacteria. Myrrh is generally well-tolerated, but ingesting it may cause diarrhea. If myrrh is applied to the skin, it's possible to experience a minor skin rash. If consumed in large doses, myrrh may cause heart problems. Myrrh is typically prepackaged, so be sure to follow the dosage instructions on the label. Thyme essential oil Many all-natural household cleaners use thyme essential oil. This oil has been shown to be especially helpful against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In a 2011 study, researchers tested the effectiveness of both lavender and thyme essential oils. Both oils were tested in a pool of over 120 strains of bacteria. The researchers found thyme essential oil to be more effective at killing bacteria than lavender essential oil. Thyme essential oil is for external use only. You shouldn't take thyme oil by mouth. Before applying to the affected area, be sure to dilute the essential oil with equal parts carrier oil. Common carrier oils include coconut and olive oils. Applying undiluted essential oil to the skin may cause inflammation and irritation. People with high blood pressure or hyperthyroid problems shouldn't use thyme essential oil. Oregano essential oil Carvacrol is an ingredient found in oregano essential oil. It has important therapeutic properties that further activate healing in the body when inhaled. Carvacrol in oregano oil has been found to help heal gastric ulcers and reduce inflammation. To treat fungal infections on your skin, add one drop of oregano essential oil per teaspoon of a carrier oil such as olive or coconut oil. Apply the mixture to the affected area. You can also diffuse oregano oil in the air to help clear sinus infections. You shouldn't ingest oregano essential oil or use undiluted essential oil on the skin. You may also be able to eradicate bacteria in the home with a homemade cleaning agent made of: oregano essential oil vinegar water lemon The bottom line Be sure to discuss your interest in natural antibiotics with your healthcare professional. They can help you explore your options and help you weigh the potential benefits and risks of each regimen. You shouldn't take antibiotics unless absolutely necessary. Taking antibiotics for the sake of taking antibiotics can lead your body to build up a resistance to the medication. You can learn ways to help prevent antibiotic resistance here.
ABC News
a day ago
- Business
- ABC News
Salmon company Huon used tonne of antibiotics in bacterial outbreak, EPA report finds
Samples of wild fish caught near a Huon Aquaculture lease in February were found to have antibiotic residue levels up to a dozen times higher than the threshold for commercially sold salmon, according to an Environment Protection Authority (EPA) report. The interim report monitoring Huon's antibiotic use was completed by environmental consultants Aquenal. According to the report, 1,133 kilograms of the antibiotic Oxytetracycline (OCT) was administered via fish feed at Huon's Zuidpool lease between February 13 and February 26 this year. In February, a mass mortality event caused by the bacterial pathogen Piscirikettsia salmonis devastated salmon farms in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, south of Hobart. Between January and March, the death of more than 13,500 tonnes of salmon was reported to the EPA by the three major salmon companies operating in the state. By late February, Huon's Zuidpool lease had begun to draw public and media attention after the Bob Brown Foundation released drone footage showing workers at the lease putting live salmon into tubs along with dead stock. Oily globules made of salmon fat began washing up along beaches on the channel, which were found to contain low levels of antibiotics. According to the Australian New Zealand Food Standard Code, salmon destined for sale must comply with an antibiotic maximum residue limit (MLT) of 0.2 milligrams per kilogram. The report said eight samples of wild fish were taken in the Zuidpool North lease, with three samples — all blue mackerel — testing above the reporting threshold. It found one sample site with wild fish showing "relatively high" antibiotic residue levels of up to 2.4 milligrams per kilogram, or 12 times higher than the maximum antibiotic threshold for commercially sold salmon. In a statement, Tasmanian Public Health Director Mark Veitch said the results were consistent with estimates used in a Food Safety Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) risk assessment. "These samples were collected in late February 2025, in the days after the period of [antibiotic] dosing ended, when antibiotic residue was most likely to be present in fish and the environment." The report also tested at Zuidpool South, with no samples returning antibiotic residue levels above the limit of reporting. Samples were also taken at five locations several kilometres from the Zuidpool salmon pens. One of those sites, Ventenat Point on Bruny Island, recorded noticeably elevated antibiotic levels in blue mackerel that was sampled. Verona Sands, Jetty and Conleys Beach on Bruny Island, and Roaring Beach near Surveyors Bay were also sampled for antibiotic levels. Aquenal said the results of those surveys will be released "in subsequent reports". The EPA will release a final report with all sample results after the monitoring program finishes. It raised concerns that prolonged exposure to antibiotic treatment could result in resistant bacterial strainers that were more difficult to treat. This year the EPA would not disclose how much antibiotic was being used by Huon, citing commercial in confidence. "If individuals are concerned at all about potentially having antibiotics in wild fish, then of course they can choose to fish further away from the [affected] lease," former EPA Tasmania director Wes Ford said at the time. Antibiotics have been commonly used by salmon companies to treat bacterial diseases. However, the EPA said antibiotic treatment has declined since 2009 due to the development of vaccines. In 2022, Tassal used 675 kilograms of the same antibiotic to treat a vibrio outbreak at its Sheppards lease off the coast of Coningham. Three flathead caught 2 kilometres from the lease were also found to contain more than the reportable threshold of antibiotics in their flesh that same year.
News24
2 days ago
- Health
- News24
Current gonorrhoea meds might stop working. When will newer ones make it to SA?
Two new antibiotics offer hope for people with gonorrhoea that is resistant to currently available drugs. But it might be years before the people who need these medicines can get them. Spotlight unpacks why these new antibiotics are important and what needs to happen before they can be used in South Africa. Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection known for its ability to mutate to evade the antibiotics used to treat it quickly. Its symptoms include pain when urinating and genital discharge, but many people don't notice any symptoms at all. If gonorrhoea is not treated, it can cause serious problems, including infertility, chronic pain and complications in babies, who risk developing infections that can cause eye damage and blindness. Gonorrhoea treatment has been a cat-and-mouse game as the bacteria continuously developed resistance against the antibiotics used to treat it. From the 1990s to the early 2000s, the antibiotic ciprofloxacin was used to treat gonorrhoea in South Africa, sometimes combined with another one called doxycycline. However, as high levels of ciprofloxacin resistance emerged, South Africa replaced this course of therapy with a regimen of cefixime and doxycycline. Gonorrhoea treatment was changed again in 2015 due to concerns regarding the emergence of cefixime resistance. The treatment regimen adopted in 2015 remains the standard of care in South Africa and much of the world today. It involves an intermuscular injection of ceftriaxone combined with oral azithromycin pills. However, some countries now recommend using high-dose injectable ceftriaxone on its own due to high levels of azithromycin resistance. While most gonorrhoea cases are still treatable with ceftriaxone, the emergence of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea has been identified as a significant global health threat. 'The last effective drug we have, ceftriaxone, already indicates increasing gonococcal resistance. Without new antibiotics, we will have no easy treatment options. This is a great concern that will have a major impact in disease control efforts,' warned the World Health Organization (WHO). READ | There's a 'worrying' resurgence of sexually transmitted infections in Gauteng That is why two new antibiotics, zoliflodacin and gepotidacin, are considered a big deal. They are the first new medicines developed for gonorrhoea in over 30 years. Both are in new classes of antibiotics, which is to say they attack the bacterium differently than previous medicines. Because of this, they have little cross-resistance with existing treatments and, therefore, offer essential treatment options for people for whom the old medicines no longer work. How widespread is ceftriaxone-resistance in South Africa? How urgently we need access to the new medicines in South Africa will depend largely on the number of people who are resistant to ceftriaxone. Unfortunately, we don't have a clear picture of drug-resistant gonorrhoea in the country. South Africa introduced a syndromic management approach for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the mid-1990s, as recommended by the WHO. It means that people reporting STI symptoms at health facilities are treated according to their symptoms rather than the results of a lab test. This approach to STIs helps to reduce the cost burden of laboratory diagnosis. It allows for immediate treatment initiation without waiting for laboratory results since some patients are 'lost' over this period as they do not return to health facilities for their test results and treatment. A challenge with treating STIs according to symptoms rather than laboratory results is that many STIs present with similar symptoms. It can lead to misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment, as well as asymptomatic infections going undiagnosed and untreated. Thus, without lab testing, combined with routine STI screening to identify asymptomatic cases, it is difficult to understand the actual burden of gonorrhoea in the country or to measure the extent of drug resistance. A systematic review, however, indicates that while azithromycin resistance is a challenge in South Africa, there was no evidence of ceftriaxone resistance as of 2022. ALSO READ | Increase in STI cases: 'I have slept with more than six girls this month alone' The National Institutes of Communicable Diseases (NICD) classified ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea as a notifiable condition in 2017, meaning that any diagnosed cases must be reported to it. The NICD did not respond to a query from Spotlight as to whether there have been any confirmed cases of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea in South Africa to date. While South Africa is not yet facing a ceftriaxone-resistance crisis, experts believe it is only a matter of time before this public health challenge reaches our borders, as global cases are increasing and the drug-resistant strain is transmittable. Some access to zoliflodacin Given the risk of a ceftriaxone-resistance crisis, it is essential that the two new antibiotics, zoliflodacin and gepotidacin, become available here as soon as possible. These new antibiotics have quite different histories. Zoliflodacin was developed by GARDP – a non-profit organisation working to accelerate the development of new antibiotics – in collaboration with the private biopharmaceutical company Innoviva. In November 2023, GARDP shared the results of its phase 3 trial of zoliflodacin, which took place in South Africa, Thailand, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United States. It tested the effectiveness of a single dose of oral zoliflodacin compared with the current standard of care treatment for gonorrhoea: an injection of ceftriaxone combined with oral azithromycin. The trial showed that a single dose of zoliflodacin works just as well as the standard of care. The results have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal. Zoliflodacin has also 'been shown to be active against all multidrug-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (the gonorrhoea bacteria), including those resistant to ceftriaxone, the last remaining recommended antibiotic treatment', GARDP's R&D project leader for STIs, Pierre Daram, told Spotlight. He added that Innoviva is in the process of applying to get the greenlight to use zoliflodacin in the United States. At the same time, GARDP plans to apply for approval in some of its regions, starting with Thailand and South Africa. GARDP is also developing a programme to make the unregistered drug available to patients with no other treatment options. 'The zoliflodacin managed access programme is about to be activated,' Daram said. 'The aim is to provide early access to zoliflodacin, prior to regulatory approval in a country, in response to individual patient requests by clinicians and whereby certain regulatory and clinical criteria are met.' South Africa will be one of the countries covered under this programme, said Daram. He explained that individual patient requests for treatment will be received from treating clinicians through an online platform. 'Based on information provided by the clinician and certain pre-determined regulatory and clinical criteria being met, GARDP will make a case-by-case decision as to whether zoliflodacin will be made available.' Daram added: 'Consideration is given to both clinical and diagnostic criteria for documentation of treatment failure.' Access to gepotidacin remains uncertain Shortly after results for zoliflodacin were announced, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) also shared positive findings for its new antibiotic in treating gonorrhoea. In April 2024, the company reported that a phase 3 trial showed that taking two doses of oral gepotidacin worked as well as the standard treatment. The results of this trial, which was conducted in Australia, Germany, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, were published in the Lancet medical journal in May. While gepotidacin represents an important new treatment option for gonorrhoea, there is no indication that it will be available in South Africa soon. ALSO READ | From Cape Town to the US and back home: Epidemiologist Alex de Voux dreams of easy and cheap STI screenings Gepotidacin has not yet been registered for the treatment of gonorrhoea but was approved in March in the United States for treating uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women and girls over 12. Thus, the medicine will have a much larger market in the US than if it was only registered for treating gonorrhoea. The price that GSK will charge for gepotidacin has not yet been disclosed, but a spokesperson told Spotlight it is set to be launched in the US in the second half of 2025. '[T]he price in the US will be disclosed when the product will be commercialised,' said the GSK spokesperson. The company did not respond to Spotlight's questions about its plans to register and market gepotidacin in South Africa. What happens next? With the launch of the zoliflodacin managed access programme, clinicians in South Africa will soon be able to apply for the medicine for patients that are resistant to existing drugs. Given that ceftriaxone-resistance is rare in the country, the number of patients in the country that will be eligible for zoliflodacin is likely to be small. Securing broader access to zoliflodacin or gepotidacin, potentially for use as a first-line gonorrhoea treatment, appears to be a long way off. While GARDP is planning to file for registration of zoliflodacin in South Africa, GSK has not indicated whether it will follow suit for gepotidacin. Professor Nigel Garrett, head of HIV pathogenesis and vaccine research at the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa, said providing the new antibiotics for first-line gonorrhoea treatment could expand delivery and uptake. The new drugs are both oral tablets and would remove the need for an injection to treat gonorrhoea. If zoliflodacin and gepotidacin are approved and made affordable in South Africa, they could also play a vital role in strengthening the country's efforts to preserve the long-term effectiveness of other antibiotics. Ceftriaxone 'is a really important drug to keep, [to] make sure that there isn't too much resistance against it', Garrett told Spotlight. He explained that the medicine is needed to treat sepsis occurring in hospitals, as well as meningitis.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Deadly superbugs thrive as access to antibiotics falters in India
It's a grim paradox, doctors say. On the one hand, antibiotics are being overused until they no longer work, driving resistance and fuelling the rise of deadly superbugs. On the other hand, people are dying because they can't access these life-saving drugs. A new study by the non-profit Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) looked at access to antibiotics for nearly 1.5 million cases of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative (CRGN) infections across eight major low- and middle-income countries, including India, Brazil and South Africa. CRGN bacteria are superbugs resistant to last-line antibiotics - yet only 6.9% of patients received appropriate treatment in the countries studied. India bore the lion's share of CRGN infections and treatment efforts, procuring 80% of the full courses of studied antibiotics but managing to treat only 7.8% of its estimated cases, the study in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal reports. (A full drug course of antibiotics refers to the complete set of doses that a patient needs to take over a specific period to fully treat an infection.) Common in water, food, the environment and the human gut, Gram-negative bacteria cause infections such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), pneumonia and food poisoning. They can pose a serious threat to newborns and the elderly alike. Especially vulnerable are hospital patients with weakened immunity, often spreading rapidly in ICUs and proving difficult - and sometimes impossible - to treat. Treating carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections is doubly difficult because those bacteria are resistant to some of the most powerful antibiotics. "These infections are a daily reality across all age groups," says Dr Abdul Gaffar, infectious disease consultant at Apollo Hospital in India's Chennai city. "We often see patients for whom no antibiotic works - and they die." The irony is cruel. While the world tries to curb antibiotic overuse, a parallel tragedy plays out quietly in poorer nations: people dying from treatable infections because the right drugs are out of reach. "For years, the dominant narrative has been that antibiotics are being overused, but the stark reality is that many people with highly drug-resistant infections in low- and middle-income countries are not getting access to the antibiotics they need," says Dr Jennifer Cohn, GARDP's Global Access Director and senior author of the study. India's 'blockbuster' drugs to take on deadly superbugs India facing a pandemic of antibiotics-resistant superbugs The study examined eight intravenous drugs active against carbapenem-resistant bacteria - ranging from older antibiotics including Colistin to newer ones such as Ceftazidime-avibactam. Of the few available drugs, Tigecycline was the most widely used. Researchers blame the treatment gap on weak health systems and limited access to effective antibiotics. For example, only 103,647 full treatment courses were procured of Tigecycline across eight countries - far short of the 1.5 million patients who needed them, the study found. This highlighted a major shortfall in the global response to drug-resistant infections. What prevents patients with drug-resistant infections in India from getting the right antibiotics? Physicians point to multiple barriers - reaching the right health facility, getting accurate diagnostic tests, and accessing effective drugs. Cost remains a major hurdle, with many of these antibiotics priced far beyond the reach of poorer patients. "Those who can afford these antibiotics often overuse them; those who can't, don't get them at all," says Dr Gaffar. "We need a system that ensures access for the poor and prevents misuse by the well-to-do." To improve access, these drugs must be made more affordable. To prevent misuse, stronger regulation is key. "Ideally, every antibiotic prescription in hospitals should require a second sign-off - by an infection specialist or microbiologist," says Dr Gaffar. "Some hospitals do this, but most don't. With the right oversight, regulators can ensure this becomes standard practice." To fix the access problem and curb misuse, both smarter policies and stronger safeguards are essential, say researchers. But access alone won't solve the crisis - the pipeline of new antibiotics is drying up. The decline in antibiotic R&D - and the limited availability of existing drugs - is a global issue. India bears one of the world's heaviest burdens of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), but it may also hold the key to combating it - both at home and globally, researchers say. "India is also one of the largest markets for new antibiotics and can successfully advocate for the development and access of new antibiotics," says Dr Cohn. With a strong pharmaceutical base, the country is emerging as a hub for AMR innovation, from promising new antibiotics to advanced diagnostics. Dr Cohn says India can strengthen its antibiotic response by generating local data to better estimate needs and pinpoint gaps in the care pathway. This would allow for more targeted interventions to improve access to the right drugs. Innovative models are already emerging - Kerala state, for instance, is using a "hub-and-spoke approach" to support lower-level facilities in managing serious infections. Coordinated or pooled procurement across hospitals or states could also reduce the cost of newer antibiotics, as seen with cancer drug programs, researchers say. Without access to the right antibiotics, modern medicine begins to unravel - doctors risk losing the ability to safely perform surgery, treat complications in cancer patients, or manage everyday infections. "As an infectious disease doctor, I see appropriate use as one part - but only one part - of access," says Dr Gaffar. "When we get new antibiotics, it's important to save them on one hand - and save them for right patients." Clearly, the challenge is not just to use antibiotics wisely, but to ensure they reach those who need them most.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Deadly superbugs thrive as access to antibiotics falters in India
It's a grim paradox, doctors say. On the one hand, antibiotics are being overused until they no longer work, driving resistance and fuelling the rise of deadly superbugs. On the other hand, people are dying because they can't access these life-saving drugs. A new study by the non-profit Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) looked at access to antibiotics for nearly 1.5 million cases of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative (CRGN) infections across eight major low- and middle-income countries, including India, Brazil and South Africa. CRGN bacteria are superbugs resistant to last-line antibiotics - yet only 6.9% of patients received appropriate treatment in the countries studied. India bore the lion's share of CRGN infections and treatment efforts, procuring 80% of the full courses of studied antibiotics but managing to treat only 7.8% of its estimated cases, the study in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal reports. (A full drug course of antibiotics refers to the complete set of doses that a patient needs to take over a specific period to fully treat an infection.) Common in water, food, the environment and the human gut, Gram-negative bacteria cause infections such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), pneumonia and food poisoning. They can pose a serious threat to newborns and the elderly alike. Especially vulnerable are hospital patients with weakened immunity, often spreading rapidly in ICUs and proving difficult - and sometimes impossible - to treat. Treating carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections is doubly difficult because those bacteria are resistant to some of the most powerful antibiotics. "These infections are a daily reality across all age groups," says Dr Abdul Gaffar, infectious disease consultant at Apollo Hospital in India's Chennai city. "We often see patients for whom no antibiotic works - and they die." The irony is cruel. While the world tries to curb antibiotic overuse, a parallel tragedy plays out quietly in poorer nations: people dying from treatable infections because the right drugs are out of reach. "For years, the dominant narrative has been that antibiotics are being overused, but the stark reality is that many people with highly drug-resistant infections in low- and middle-income countries are not getting access to the antibiotics they need," says Dr Jennifer Cohn, GARDP's Global Access Director and senior author of the study. India's 'blockbuster' drugs to take on deadly superbugs India facing a pandemic of antibiotics-resistant superbugs The study examined eight intravenous drugs active against carbapenem-resistant bacteria - ranging from older antibiotics including Colistin to newer ones such as Ceftazidime-avibactam. Of the few available drugs, Tigecycline was the most widely used. Researchers blame the treatment gap on weak health systems and limited access to effective antibiotics. For example, only 103,647 full treatment courses were procured of Tigecycline across eight countries - far short of the 1.5 million patients who needed them, the study found. This highlighted a major shortfall in the global response to drug-resistant infections. What prevents patients with drug-resistant infections in India from getting the right antibiotics? Physicians point to multiple barriers - reaching the right health facility, getting accurate diagnostic tests, and accessing effective drugs. Cost remains a major hurdle, with many of these antibiotics priced far beyond the reach of poorer patients. "Those who can afford these antibiotics often overuse them; those who can't, don't get them at all," says Dr Gaffar. "We need a system that ensures access for the poor and prevents misuse by the well-to-do." To improve access, these drugs must be made more affordable. To prevent misuse, stronger regulation is key. "Ideally, every antibiotic prescription in hospitals should require a second sign-off - by an infection specialist or microbiologist," says Dr Gaffar. "Some hospitals do this, but most don't. With the right oversight, regulators can ensure this becomes standard practice." To fix the access problem and curb misuse, both smarter policies and stronger safeguards are essential, say researchers. But access alone won't solve the crisis - the pipeline of new antibiotics is drying up. The decline in antibiotic R&D - and the limited availability of existing drugs - is a global issue. India bears one of the world's heaviest burdens of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), but it may also hold the key to combating it - both at home and globally, researchers say. "India is also one of the largest markets for new antibiotics and can successfully advocate for the development and access of new antibiotics," says Dr Cohn. With a strong pharmaceutical base, the country is emerging as a hub for AMR innovation, from promising new antibiotics to advanced diagnostics. Dr Cohn says India can strengthen its antibiotic response by generating local data to better estimate needs and pinpoint gaps in the care pathway. This would allow for more targeted interventions to improve access to the right drugs. Innovative models are already emerging - Kerala state, for instance, is using a "hub-and-spoke approach" to support lower-level facilities in managing serious infections. Coordinated or pooled procurement across hospitals or states could also reduce the cost of newer antibiotics, as seen with cancer drug programs, researchers say. Without access to the right antibiotics, modern medicine begins to unravel - doctors risk losing the ability to safely perform surgery, treat complications in cancer patients, or manage everyday infections. "As an infectious disease doctor, I see appropriate use as one part - but only one part - of access," says Dr Gaffar. "When we get new antibiotics, it's important to save them on one hand - and save them for right patients." Clearly, the challenge is not just to use antibiotics wisely, but to ensure they reach those who need them most.
