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> Initially, most individuals carrying bacteria with the new resistance factor had some link to clinics in India One big problem is that in India, lack (or poo

> Initially, most individuals carrying bacteria with the new resistance factor had some link to clinics in India One big problem is that in India, lack (or poor enforcement) of regulations results in abuse of antibiotics, which leads to the development of resistance. People are also much more susceptible to infectious disease, due to poor public health policy (lack of clean water, etc.).

hga 13y ago
A quick check with Google (indian pharmacy antibiotics) confirmed my understanding that they're basically unregulated (http://www.nature.com/news/india-moves-to-tackle-antibiotic-resistance-1.11392 http://www.nature.com/news/india-moves-to-tackle-antibiotic-...): "[...] antibiotics are readily available over the counter at pharmacies...." "Last week, physicians moved a step closer to their goal when India’s drug regulators announced a plan that would put tight restrictions on the sale of antibiotics. Carbapenems and many other antibiotics are already on a list of 536 drugs in India that require a prescription. But studies have shown that such drugs are easy to purchase at retail pharmacies without a physician’s signature...." This article from a bit less than a year ago then says the new measures will be adding red labels and surprise inspections.... Lots more hits where that came from, including plenty from India.
cageface 13y ago
This is a big problem in SE Asia too. Here in Vietnam I don't think I've ever seen anyone come back from a visit to the doctor without antibiotics, and pharmacies dole them out like candy without prescriptions. What's worse is that they seem to always provide only a day or two worth of pills, which in most cases isn't enough to do anything.
- marvin 13y ago
  How on Earth can this happen? Doesn't Vietnam have trained doctors? This practice is ridiculously dangerous? Why?
  - manmal 13y ago
    I've been to a Greek island a few years ago (Korfu). A friend of mine walked into a drugstore, told them he has a cold, and walked out with some broad-band antibiotic. No questions asked.
  - cageface 13y ago
    There are competent doctors here but my impression is that the typical level of training is pretty low.
- Qantourisc 13y ago
  OMG that's terrible ! In Belgium you are told to consume the entire package, even if you have been cured. And is not easily described unless you can't seem to beat it on your own. (At least with my doctor.)
fiatmoney 13y ago
So under what circumstances does it make sense to embargo antibiotics to health systems that don't use them properly?
- hga 13y ago
  If they're major producers of pharmaceuticals, like India, I don't see how you can. You'd have to engage in some really serious and smart economic warfare (or worse), and it would be hard to avoid stomping on other drugs. And it doesn't take all that much to produce many basic antibiotics, they are after all originally from molds. Lots are "semi-synthetic", modified from the base version to have different characteristics. And the usual suspect would scream bloody murder ... it's a difficult question of more people dying today to prevent even more people dying tomorrow, something people are generally bad at dealing with until the 11th hour when its often too late.

hga 13y ago

A quick check with Google (indian pharmacy antibiotics) confirmed my understanding that they're basically unregulated (http://www.nature.com/news/india-moves-to-tackle-antibiotic-resistance-1.11392 http://www.nature.com/news/india-moves-to-tackle-antibiotic-...): "[...] antibiotics are readily available over the counter at pharmacies...." "Last week, physicians moved a step closer to their goal when India’s drug regulators announced a plan that would put tight restrictions on the sale of antibiotics. Carbapenems and many other antibiotics are already on a list of 536 drugs in India that require a prescription. But studies have shown that such drugs are easy to purchase at retail pharmacies without a physician’s signature...." This article from a bit less than a year ago then says the new measures will be adding red labels and surprise inspections.... Lots more hits where that came from, including plenty from India.

cageface 13y ago

This is a big problem in SE Asia too. Here in Vietnam I don't think I've ever seen anyone come back from a visit to the doctor without antibiotics, and pharmacies dole them out like candy without prescriptions. What's worse is that they seem to always provide only a day or two worth of pills, which in most cases isn't enough to do anything.

marvin 13y ago
How on Earth can this happen? Doesn't Vietnam have trained doctors? This practice is ridiculously dangerous? Why?
- manmal 13y ago
  I've been to a Greek island a few years ago (Korfu). A friend of mine walked into a drugstore, told them he has a cold, and walked out with some broad-band antibiotic. No questions asked.
- cageface 13y ago
  There are competent doctors here but my impression is that the typical level of training is pretty low.
Qantourisc 13y ago
OMG that's terrible ! In Belgium you are told to consume the entire package, even if you have been cured. And is not easily described unless you can't seem to beat it on your own. (At least with my doctor.)

fiatmoney 13y ago

So under what circumstances does it make sense to embargo antibiotics to health systems that don't use them properly?

hga 13y ago
If they're major producers of pharmaceuticals, like India, I don't see how you can. You'd have to engage in some really serious and smart economic warfare (or worse), and it would be hard to avoid stomping on other drugs. And it doesn't take all that much to produce many basic antibiotics, they are after all originally from molds. Lots are "semi-synthetic", modified from the base version to have different characteristics. And the usual suspect would scream bloody murder ... it's a difficult question of more people dying today to prevent even more people dying tomorrow, something people are generally bad at dealing with until the 11th hour when its often too late.