What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are medicines that fight bacterial infections in people and animals.
They work by killing the bacteria or by making it hard for the bacteria to grow and multiply.
Antibiotics can be taken in different ways:
Orally (by mouth) – This could be pills, capsules, or liquids.
Topically – This might be a cream, spray, or ointment that you put on your skin. It could also be eye ointment, eye drops, or ear drops.
Through an injection or intravenously (IV) – This is usually for more serious infections.
Recent Innovations
Cefepime/zidebactam:
Developed by Indian researchers, this antibiotic combines two active components to combat drug-resistant gram-negative pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
While still undergoing phase 3 trials internationally, this Indian innovation has shown remarkable potential.
Under a compassionate use protocol, the necessary approvals were obtained, and the patient received cefepime/zidebactam.
Signs of clinical improvement began to surface.
The patient’s fever subsided, blood cultures turned negative, and the need for oxygen diminished.
Slowly but steadily, his strength returned, reigniting hope.
This extraordinary case underscores the urgent importance of granting Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for antibiotics currently in phase 3 trials or licensed from other countries.
Cefiderocol:
A licenced antibiotic in several countries.
Developed by a Japanese company, has demonstrated excellent efficacy against drug-resistant infections.
It remains unavailable within India.
Need of Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for essential antibiotics
The scarcity of potent antibiotics to combat drug-resistant infections poses a direct threat to countless lives.
Available antibiotics have lost their effectiveness due to rising resistance.
Each year, millions of lives are lost due to the inadequacy of available antibiotics in the face of these formidable pathogens.
The challenges faced by doctors in combating drug-resistant infections are multifaceted.
They must navigate through a shrinking arsenal of effective antibiotics, leaving them with limited choices and often resorting to suboptimal treatments that may have significant side-effects or offer little hope of a cure.
Way forward
India, a nation that has demonstrated remarkable progress in granting EUA for COVID-19 vaccines.
India must extend the same level of urgency and commitment to antibiotics.
While it is true that several antibiotics are licensed within our country based on small clinical studies and of questionable benefit.
Antibiotics that have been thoroughly evaluated or proven to be effective are essential in the battle against superbugs.
Recognising the importance of cefepime/zidebactam and grant its EUA.
However, we must emphasise the importance of responsible and appropriate utilisation of these medications.
A collective decision by a team of experienced doctors, including infectious diseases experts should be made mandatory before initiating their use.
This will ensure that these powerful antibiotics are administered to patients who will benefit the most while minimising the risk of misuse or overuse.
By granting EUA for cefepime/zidebactam and cefiderocol, we can strengthen our arsenal against drug-resistant infections.
Their inclusion in the EUA list would not only empower doctors but also instil a renewed sense of hope and confidence among patients and their families
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