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Such projects as GRACE are even more urgently needed in
developing countries. No prescribing guidelines exist and the availability
and affordability of microbiology services is limited. This, coupled with
the fact that 'treatment trials' are often cheaper than diagnostic workup,
leads to unregulated antibiotic use.
In India, the cheap newer fluoroquinolones are freely used in LRTIs.
What interaction would this have with the Mycobacteria in community needs
to be explored - otherwise these drugs which form the cornerstone of multi
-drug resistant tuberculosis treatment may become worthless in future.
Moreover, spread of resistance organisms is easy in this age of jet
travel, and the developing countries might become exporters of resistant
organisms.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests:
No competing interests
24 March 2006
Dharmesh Shukla
Assistant Professor in Medicine
Kesar SAL Medical College, Ahmedabad, India 3800060
Antibiotic resistance in community acquired pathogens
Sir:
Such projects as GRACE are even more urgently needed in
developing countries. No prescribing guidelines exist and the availability
and affordability of microbiology services is limited. This, coupled with
the fact that 'treatment trials' are often cheaper than diagnostic workup,
leads to unregulated antibiotic use.
In India, the cheap newer fluoroquinolones are freely used in LRTIs.
What interaction would this have with the Mycobacteria in community needs
to be explored - otherwise these drugs which form the cornerstone of multi
-drug resistant tuberculosis treatment may become worthless in future.
Moreover, spread of resistance organisms is easy in this age of jet
travel, and the developing countries might become exporters of resistant
organisms.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests