Drug-Resistant Bacteria In Ashtamudi Lake: UPSC Current Affairs

Description

Why In News?

A recent study published in the international journal Environmental and Experimental Biology has identified Ashtamudi Lake in Kerala as a potential hotspot for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

About Ashtamudi Lake

Location: Kollam District, Kerala.
Significance: It is the second-largest estuarine system in Kerala and a designated Ramsar Site (wetland of international importance). It is known as the "Gateway to the Backwaters."
Ecology: It supports a unique mangrove ecosystem and is a critical habitat for various fish and bird species.
Status: The lake has been under severe stress due to oil spills, untreated sewage, and encroachment, often drawing the attention of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

Key Findings of the Study

The study highlighted the presence of bacteria that have evolved mechanisms to survive exposure to potent antibiotics.

Pathogens Identified: The study isolated strains of Bacillus cereus (causes food poisoning) and Citrobacter freundii (associated with hospital-acquired infections).
Resistance Profile: These bacteria showed resistance to:

Beta-lactam antibiotics: Ampicillin, Amoxicillin, and Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid.
Last-Resort Drugs: Resistance was observed against Ceftriaxone (a third-generation cephalosporin) and intermediate resistance to Imipenem (a carbapenem used for severe, high-risk infections).

High-Risk Zones: Highest concentration of resistant bacteria was found in areas adjacent to hospitals, poultry farms, and aquaculture units, linking the resistance directly to effluent discharge.

What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), AMR is the resistance acquired by microorganisms against antimicrobial drugs (antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics) used to treat infections.

When these pathogens change over time, standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist in the body, and the risk of spread to others increases.

Superbugs: Pathogens that develop resistance to multiple antimicrobial drugs are often referred to as "superbugs".
A Natural Process: Resistance is a natural evolutionary phenomenon, but human activities have dangerously accelerated its progression.

Key Drivers of AMR

The emergence and spread of AMR are fueled by a combination of human, animal, and environmental factors:

Misuse and Overuse in Humans: Includes self-medication, non-adherence to prescribed dosages, and over-prescription for viral infections like the common cold where antibiotics are ineffective.
Agriculture and Livestock: Around 70% of global antimicrobial use occurs in livestock, often as growth promoters or for disease prevention in healthy animals rather than just treating the sick.
Environmental Pollution: Untreated wastewater from pharmaceutical manufacturing, hospitals, and farms releases antibiotic residues and resistant genes into soil and water systems.
Sanitation Gaps: Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure facilitates the transmission of resistant pathogens in both community and healthcare settings.

Impact of AMR

Human Toll: Bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths, according to a Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance (GRAM) report.

Economic Impact: The World Bank estimates that AMR could cause a global GDP shortfall of up to 3.8% by 2050, potentially pushing 28 million people into extreme poverty.

India's Burden: India faces a high burden due to its large population and high rates of infectious diseases. Over 56,000 newborn deaths annually in India are attributed to sepsis caused by drug-resistant organisms, according to ICMR data.

India's Policy Response

National Action Plan (NAP-AMR): Launched in 2017, the plan follows a "One Health" approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental sectors.

Red Line Campaign: A public awareness initiative requiring a vertical red line on antibiotic packaging to signal they should not be sold or used without a prescription.

Schedule H1: A 2014 amendment to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules to regulate and restrict the over-the-counter sale of critical antibiotics.

FDC Ban: In 2024, the government banned 156 irrational fixed-dose combination (FDC) drugs, including antibiotic cocktails that lacked scientific justification.

Way Forward

Addressing AMR requires a One Health approach—a collaborative, multisectoral strategy that recognizes the interconnection between the health of people, animals, and the shared environment.

Key priorities include strengthening surveillance through systems like WHO’s GLASS, promoting rational drug use, and investing in the research and development of new vaccines and diagnostic tools.

Source: NEWINDIANEXPRESS

Attempt Daily Quiz

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is no longer just a clinical challenge but an environmental catastrophe. Discuss. 150 words

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The resistance stems primarily from three anthropogenic sources: inadequate treatment of hospital effluents containing pharmaceutical residues, unregulated use of prophylactic antibiotics in local aquaculture and poultry farming, and untreated sewage discharge into the lake.

Antibiotic residues in water bioaccumulate in seafood. Western markets, like the US and EU, have strict zero-tolerance limits for antibiotic residues. The presence of these residues leads to mass rejections of Indian seafood exports, severely damaging foreign exchange earnings and local coastal livelihoods.

The 'One Health' approach is an integrated framework recognizing that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent. It requires coordinated action across medical, veterinary, and environmental sectors to combat AMR.