Antibiotic resistance on the rise, say doctors
Prof Anthony Mbonye, the Director General of Health Services in charge of Clinical and Community Health, appends his signature on an autographed copy of the report during the launch in Kampala on Tuesday. PHOTO BY STEPHEN OTAGE
Kampala- Resistance to antibiotics among Ugandans is increasing, a new study has revealed.
The Global Antibiotic Resistance Partnership (GARP-UG) study conducted by the Uganda National Academy of Sciences (UNAS) shows worsening trends of resistance and diminishing effectiveness of antibiotics in the country.
While presenting results of the study dubbed: “Antibiotic Resistance in Uganda: Situation Analysis and recommendations,” on Tuesday in Kampala, Prof Denis Byarugaba, the chairperson of GARP working group, said the resistance to Penicillin G and Cotrimaxazole is imminent or already at 100 per cent.
Prof Richard Odoi Adome of Makerere University College of Health Sciences defined antibiotics resistance as a situation where organisms like bacteria and virus get used to the chemicals used to clear them from blood.
Cause
Prof Byarugaba blamed the rise of antibiotics resistance on self-medication with uncontrolled over-the-counter access, absence of laboratories cable in detecting the pathogens, use of antibiotics in animal feed, inadequate enforcement of laws regulating antibiotics use and access and involvement of non-qualified prescribers.
“Many health practitioners that may legally prescribe antibiotics are aware of antimicrobial resistance but don’t know how to address it,” said Prof Byarugaba.
According to the report, the leading bacterial infections in Uganda are pneumonia, bacterial meningitis and septicaemia.
Ministry of Health’s Prof Anthony Mbonye who was the chief guest at the launch said the findings of the report call upon the National Drug Authority (NDA) and other professional bodies to facilitate the implementation of measures used to detect drug resistance.
Wrong diagnosis
Dr Yusuf Mpairwe, one of the consultants on the study, said he had noticed a trend of people who are being wrongly diagnosed with bacterial infections yet they are suffering from other sicknesses.
“The Ministry of Health should ensure the quality standards of medical equipment because some hematology machines give wrong results thus contributing to antibiotic resistance,” he said.
