Healthcare | Saturday 6 June, 2015 1:11 am |

With most antibiotics readily available over the counter, people in the Kingdom often take them by self-diagnosing their illnesses and conditions, which in addition to the obvious likelihood of misdiagnosis, can cause more harm than good. Saudi health experts spoke to Al-Riyadh daily and warned that taking antibiotics without proper consultation can have serious side effects, including interactions with other drugs resulting in complications and even death, and create antibiotic-resistant germs, further complicating treatment.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Haqawi, infectious disease consultant and head of the Infectious Disease Department, King Fahd Medical City, said some bacteria can resist antibiotics and some infectious cases can kill people unless drastic measures are taken.

Dr. Muhammad Al-Quwaizani of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) blamed society and several government agencies for the lack of public awareness on the dire consequences of using antibiotics without prescriptions.

“Pharmacists do not comply with the pertinent regulations banning the dispensing of antibiotics without prescriptions. The public should be educated about the safe use of antibiotics. This is the best way to stop or reduce the negative effects of using antibiotics without consultation,” he said.

The SFDA is the agency that registers antibiotics in the Kingdom and ensures they meet global specifications and are safe for public use. It also monitors the side effects caused by any drug that has been introduced to the market. His advice to the public is not to take antibiotics based on the advice or recommendation of a friend or a relative.

“Those who have been told by their doctors to take an antibiotic should not stop using it if they feel better and finish the course of treatment. Otherwise, they may develop antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their bodies that may strike again and this time it will be difficult to fight the illness because of resistance to the medication,” he said.

Dr. Samira Al-Juhani, microbiology consultant and head of Microbiology and Viruses Laboratory, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, talked about the universality of the problem. “This problem exists in several countries around the world and we’re part of the world. Every day, we examine samples of blood that have antibiotic-resistant bacteria and there is no medication for it,” she said.

Dr. Al-Juhani believes the Ministry of Health should work closely with all relevant government bodies, including the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to crack down on the buying and selling of antibiotics without prescriptions. She said many people who buy antibiotics without a prescription end up having medical conditions for which there is no cure.

“In Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom it is illegal to sell antibiotics without prescriptions. Citizens should be fully aware of what they are dealing with. Antibiotics cannot treat colds or the flu because these are viruses; they are taken to fight bacteria only. This is the fact all people should know and realize well,” she said while adding media campaigns should be launched to get this message across.

Dr. Hanan Balkhy, executive director of the Gulf Cooperation Council Center for Infection Control (GCC-CIC) and head of the Preventive Medicine and Anti-Infection Department at National Guard Ministry, said there was a need for conducting more studies on the use and appropriate methods for dispensing of antibiotics.

“Controlling the sale of antibiotics without medical prescriptions is a complicated problem that needs many government agencies to join forces and work together to solve,” she said.

@saudigazette