BMU finds alarming rise in antibiotic resistance after sample analysis
According to the report, prepared by the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, 11,108 samples, or 24% of the total, were culture positive.
Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) has reported a sharp rise in antibiotic resistance after analysing 46,279 patient samples over the past year, with several widely used drugs, including ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin, showing declining effectiveness across major infections.
The findings were presented today (8 December) at the Antimicrobial Resistance Report (2024–25) Dissemination Programme held at BMU's Milton Hall, organised as part of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2025.
This year's theme was: "Take action now, protect our present, safeguard our future."
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According to the report, prepared by the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, 11,108 samples, or 24% of the total, were culture positive.
High resistance detected in major pathogens
Associate Professor Dr Shaheda Anower, who delivered the main presentation, said urine samples had the highest infection rate, with E coli identified as the predominant pathogen.
In blood samples, Salmonella Typhi was detected most frequently.
She said resistance to ciprofloxacin was highest in Salmonella Typhi, with some strains now showing reduced sensitivity to ceftriaxone, prompting the need for genetic sequencing.
Resistance to ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin in E coli has also increased significantly.
Although meropenem and tigecycline remain broadly effective, rising resistance trends are visible.
In pneumonia and other respiratory infections, Klebsiella species displayed moderate to high resistance to ceftriaxone, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin.
The situation was more severe with Acinetobacter species, which showed resistance to almost all commonly used antibiotics, including increasing resistance even to meropenem and tigecycline.
Antifungal resistance rises in critical care patients
The report also highlighted a rise in antifungal resistance. In ICU-based candidemia cases, Candida tropicalis and Candida albicans were the most common pathogens, while resistance to fluconazole is increasing among C. ciferrii, C. parapsilosis, C. guilliermondii and C. tropicalis.
Event chair Professor Dr Abu Naser Ibn Sattar said misuse and overuse of antibiotics — including self-medication, incomplete treatment courses, unnecessary prescriptions, and excessive use in livestock — are accelerating microbial mutations and resistance.
As a result, common infections are becoming more complicated, treatment costs are rising, ICU admissions are increasing, and mortality risks are growing.
He urged the public not to purchase medicines without a prescription and emphasised the importance of hygiene, vaccination, food safety and infection prevention practices.
