Abuse of antibiotics could see more people in Africa die 

-to fight minor infections.

Antibiotics are not effective against viruses such as the common cold or influenza;  drugs which inhibit viruses are termed antiviral drugs or antivirals rather than antibiotics.

Sometimes, the term antibiotic—literally ‘opposing life’,    is broadly used to refer to any substance used against microbes, but in the usual medical usage, antibiotics (such as penicillin) are those produced naturally  by one microorganism fighting another , whereas non-antibiotic antibacterials  such as sulfonamides and antiseptics  are fully synthetic. However, both classes have the same goal of killing or preventing the growth of microorganisms, and both are included in antimicrobial chemotherapy. ‘Antibacterials’ include antiseptic drugs, antibacterial soaps, and chemical disinfectants, whereas antibiotics are an important class of antibacterials used more specifically in medicine[6] and sometimes in livestock feed.

Antibiotics have been used since ancient times. Many civilizations used topical application of mouldy bread, with many references to its beneficial effects arising from ancient Egypt, Nubia, China, Serbia, Greece, and Rome. The first person to directly document the use of molds to treat infections was John Parkinson (1567–1650). Antibiotics revolutionized medicine in the 20th century. Alexander Fleming (1881–1955) discovered modern day penicillin in 1928, the widespread use of which proved significantly beneficial during wartime. However, the effectiveness and easy access to antibiotics have also led to their overuse  and some bacteria have evolved resistance to them.  The World Health Organisation has classified antimicrobial resistance as a widespread ‘serious threat [that] is no longer a prediction for the future, it is happening right now in every region of the world and has the potential to affect anyone, of any age, in any country’.  

Self-prescription and uncontrolled purchase of antibiotics from street drug vendors for treating domestic animals is a worrying trend that puts people’s health at risk, according to the World Animal Protection (WAP)’s new report.

The report states that the unscrupulous business that incorporates inappropriate use of antimicrobials in animals is growing a global concern of looking into the matter with proper laws and policies at national levels.

According to the study conducted between November and December 2020 targeting street vendors, veterinary drug stores (Agrovets), pharmacies, farmers, and the public across 19 counties in Kenya to determine the knowledge and practices on antimicrobial resistance, 1,142 participants across 19 counties were interviewed on the matter.

Knowledge and practices related to antibiotics among respondents showed significant gaps and need an urgent effort to mitigate such practices.  Antibiotics were the commonly sold product in human and veterinary stores.  Every time an antibiotic is given to an animal or consumed by a human, basically it is an opportunity for those bacteria present to get used to that antibiotic and possibly mutate to be resistant.

The study showed that antibiotics were the most sold product in 58 percent of Agrovets and 43 per cent of pharmacies interviewed. Antibiotic sales contributed significantly to total revenue in stores, 38.8 percent in Pharmacies and 30 percent in Agrovets.

 A concerted effort is urgently needed to sensitise the need for responsible use of antibiotics in human and animal health. For instance, farmers need to shift from low welfare practices in which antibiotics are misused to cover up poor welfare, and adopt higher animal welfare standards that ensure animals live a healthy life.