Antimicrobial Drug Resistance: A Review

Abstract

Problems of antimicrobial drug resistance are presently serious and desperate. The principal areas of concern are twofold: multiresistant opportunist bacteria that affect vulnerable patients in high dependency areas of hospitals major problem for developing countries like India. There is multidrug resistance among the classic pathogens. Almost 1/3^rd population on the earth are infected by mycobacterium tuberculosis, salmonella typhi, Shigella spp., Neisseria gonorrhea and plasmodium falciparum. Number of drugs available for the treatment of viral, fungal and parasite infections is comparatively less; moreover very little is known about resistance. In recent years; concern has increased that the golden antibiotic era might be coming to an end. This is attributed to the rate of production of new antimicrobial agents has reduced. Moreover, different parasites are showing great inventiveness in devising mechanisms for overcoming the lethal activity of such agents. If antimicrobial chemotherapy is preserved for future; prescribers must learn to use these powerful tools with greater discretion and their use worldwide must be regulated effectively.