41% of ICU patients not responding to antibiotics: IEDCR
Samples collected from five ICUs were tested against 71 different antibiotics, and a significant number showed no effectiveness
The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, and Research's (IEDCR) National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Surveillance in the country has revealed that 41% of patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) are not responding to any available antibiotics.
The findings were unveiled at the official launch of the national AMR surveillance report at IEDCR's new building in Mohakhali today (24 November).
The report, presented by IEDCR Chief Scientific Officer Professor Dr Zakir Hossain Habib, paints a grim picture of widespread "superbugs" defying all treatment.
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The case-based surveillance, conducted from July 2024 to June this year, analysed data from more than 96,477 patients across the country.
Samples collected from five ICUs were tested against 71 different antibiotics, and a significant number showed no effectiveness.
People often take antibiotics from pharmacies or quacks without proper medical guidance, and in many cases, this leads to resistance
The IEDCR said Pan-Drug-Resistant (PDR) organisms — resistant to all antibiotics tested — were found in 7% of all samples, rising sharply to 41% in ICU samples.
Multi-Drug-Resistant (MDR) pathogens accounted for 46% of all isolates, and an alarming 89% in ICU samples, it added.
Dr Habib warned, "Unregulated antibiotic consumption is driving AMR to a critical level. This is now a major public health threat."
"Save antibiotics, save yourself," he urged the public.
Dhaka leads in perilous consumption
The surveillance report alarmingly revealed that Dhaka alone consumes 57% of all antibiotics used in Bangladesh.
This figure reflects the capital's high patient volume, numerous specialised hospitals, and broader access to healthcare.
Following Dhaka were Rajshahi, Chattogram, Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, and Sylhet.
Notably, high antibiotic use was also observed among patients suffering from urinary tract infections (UTIs).
The surveillance also highlighted a surge in the use of WHO Watch-Group antibiotics, essential for human medicine, rising from 77% to 90.9%.
Ceftriaxone (33%) and Meropenem (16%) remained the most frequently used antibiotics in surveillance sites, mirroring previous years' trends.
Top 10
The top 10 most frequently used antibiotics nationwide are: Ceftriaxone, Cefixime, Meropenem, Ciprofloxacin, Azithromycin, Amoxicillin, Metronidazole, Cloxacillin, Piperacillin–Tazobactam, and Vancomycin.
IEDCR Director Professor Dr Tahmina Shirin underscored the gravity, stating that the growing misuse is pushing the country deeper into an AMR crisis.
She noted that the IEDCR has been tracking AMR trends since 2017, building one of the country's largest databases on the issue.
"We must stop selling antibiotics without prescriptions. Public awareness is crucial," Dr Tahmina added.
She stressed that no one should ever take antibiotics without consulting a registered physician, warning that many patients are developing resistance due to advice from unqualified practitioners or drugstore staff.
"People often take antibiotics from pharmacies or quacks without proper medical guidance, and in many cases, this leads to resistance," she said, pleading, "I strongly urge everyone not to use antibiotics based on recommendations from non-registered practitioners."
