Doctors worried over declining effectiveness of typhoid drugs - Times of India

BENGALURU: The epidemic swept across Africa three years ago and now doctors are worried drug-resistant typhoid could hit India too. Doctors say the country is quickly running out of antibiotics to treat the disease.
Ciprofloxacin, which was introduced in 1990 to battle the bacterial disease, has been rendered ineffective, prompting doctors to prescribe another drug (ceftriaxone). Dr Arti Kapil, professor of microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, said it is believed to be the result of bacterial resistance due to overuse of antibiotics over last two decades.

Study required

Speaking about ‘Antibiotics treatment for typhoid fever: Have we run out of options?’ at the World Congress on Infectious Diseases and Antibiotics on Wednesday, Dr Kapil said the online sale of a combination of antibiotics to treat typhoid is a matter of concern. Dr Kapil stressed on the need to conduct a community-based typhoid survey across the country to understand whether there is a need to include typhoid vaccine in the immunisation scheme.
“But such surveys require testing blood samples,” she said. “This demands blood culture tests be done in primary health centres (PHCs). Currently, PHCs don’t have a lab facility to support such a massive study.”
Risk of heart ailment triples post-menopause
Dr Veena Nanjappa, interventional cardiologist, Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, Mysuru, said, “Cardiovascular disease (CAD) is twice as common among women with diabetes as those without. They are four times likely to be hospitalised, and women have a higher risk than men. Post menopause women are at equivalent risk to men of same age. Risk of CAD triples after menopause,”

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