Despite the fact that misuse of antibiotics increases the evolution of resistant microorganism, a new multi-country survey by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed a rise in misconceptions about drug resistance.

The survey, that involved 10,000 people across 12 countries, found that 64 per cent believe that antibiotics can be used to treat colds, notwithstanding the fact that these drugs have no impact on such viral infections.

Also, 32 per cent of respondents stop taking antibiotics as soon as they start feeling better instead of completing the whole prescribed course of treatment.

According to Dr Margaret Chan, the WHO director-general, this rising antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis which governments should recognise among the challenges to public health today.

"It is reaching dangerously high levels in all parts of the world,” said Chan.

She added that the soaring resistance to antibiotics is compromising the ability to treat infectious diseases although there are many developments in medicine.

"Antibiotic resistance is compromising our ability to treat infectious diseases and undermining many advances in medicine,” she added.

As a move to address this crisis, WHO also launched a new campaign dubbed ‘Antibiotics: Handle with care’, to improve understanding of the problem and change the way these drugs are used.

Dr Keiji Fukuda, the special representative of the director-general for antimicrobial resistance, pointed to the urgent need to improve peoples’ understanding of antibiotic resistance.

"This campaign is just one of the ways we are working with governments, health authorities and other partners to reduce antibiotic resistance. One of the biggest health challenges of the 21st century will require global behavioural change by individuals and societies,” said Dr Fukuda. Growth of antibiotic resistance in Sub-Saharan Africa

Experts believe that antibiotic resistance in Africa will reach 4.15 million people with Sub-Saharan Africa carrying the biggest burden.

Such infections include pneumonia and tuberculosis.

Globally in 2014, it was estimated that 480,000 new cases of multi drug resistant TB (MDR TB) occurred and approximately 190,000 people died of it.

MDR TB cases are relatively high with 6,000 cases registered in 2013 in Rwanda alone, according to Rwanda Biomedical Centre.

Dr Osee Sebatunzi, the director of Kibagabaga Hospital, pointed out that antibiotic resistance mainly arises from patients’ non-adherence to prescription.

"Misuse of drugs includes patients not adhering to dosage as prescribed by the health professionals,” Dr Sebatunzi told The New Times yesterday.

This year, the annual World Antibiotic Awareness Week, which started on Monday, seeks to promote public awareness.

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