A Professor of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Professor Yakubu Boyi Ngwai has warned against the abuse of antibiotics saying it is responsible for the rising cases of antibiotic resistance in humans.
He said this in an interview with Daily Trust.
He said the abuse of antibiotics includes indiscriminate usage without prescription, non-adherence to prescribed dosing schedule, use for wrong reasons and use in agriculture, among others.
Professor Ngwai who is also the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), at
Nasarawa State University, Keffi, said that the factors that promote antibiotic resistance ensure that bacteria are exposed to antibiotic concentrations that are below that required to inhibit or kill the bacteria, as a result, the bacteria becomes trained to withstand clinical doses of the antibiotics.
The don explained the many consequences of antibiotic resistance
as: failure of treatment leading to increased death or complications from infection, increased cost of treatment due to prolonged hospital stay or need for use of expensive antibiotics or medical interventions, productivity loses due to loss of work hours, days and increased burden on the health system, among others.
The don said that about 60% to 70% of drugs in the market the world over are antibiotics, adding,“ if individuals, governments and stakeholders in the health sector do not take necessary action to protect the drugs, we will wake up tomorrow to discover that we have no cure.”
Professor Ngwai said that in order to prevent and reduce antibiotic resistance, all actions taken to reduce the inappropriate and unnecessary use of antibiotics (antibiotic stewardship) need to be given serious attention.
He pointed out that surveillance of antibiotic resistance, investing in new antibiotics, vaccines and diagnostics are some of the steps needed to be taken to reduce the spread of resistance in humans.
He added, “Antibiotic stewardship require that proper prescriptions are obtained for any antibiotics use, patients adhere to the recommended doses, antibiotics are not prescribed for wrong reasons, regulation and promotion of quality antibiotics, and agricultural use of antibiotics is limited to treatment of infectious diseases.”
He called on the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) to step-up action to ensure quality antibiotics are produced and released into the market for use.
“NAFDAC should particularly increase its vigilance in respect of imported antibiotics. The PCN should ensure that antibiotics are only sold in hospitals and registered pharmacies, to the exclusion of patent medicine stores. The licensed pharmacies should ensure that the quality of these medicines is sustained in their premises,” he said.
