Indiscriminate
use of antibiotics is creating an epidemic like situation where antibiotics
available today are not able to control infections. There is urgent need to
develop new antibiotics urgently. Developments of new drugs are not easy due to
the stringent requirements of clinical trials for adequate testing of the drugs
for their effectiveness and safety.
Millions
of people die from infections (most often acquired in hospitals) which the
existing antibiotics are not able to control. Saving a patient’s life is the
primary concern of doctors. Options are very few.
The
governments, worldwide are very much concerned about the situation and millions
of dollars are kept aside to support drug makers in developing new medications to
combat the antibiotic resistance.
Due
to the anxiety to develop new drugs (which are generally toxic), regulators
should not approve new drugs without the required number of trials. Government
health departments should come out with protocols to use such new drugs in a
well-controlled manner.
