THE management of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has been a growing public health concern. Despite repeated calls from health advocates, the management of infectious drug-resistant microorganisms in our hospitals remains poor. A recent study by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Bangladesh found that a highly drug-resistant fungal ‘superbug’ called Candida auris is spreading within neonatal intensive care units in Bangladesh, posing a serious threat to newborns and healthcare systems. Candida auris is a fungus that can live harmlessly on human skin but sometimes enters the bloodstream, leading to deadly infections. In low- and middle-income countries, infections caused by C auris can result in a crude mortality rate of up to 70 per cent. The study also revealed that 82 per cent of the fungal isolates were resistant to fluconazole, the most common antifungal drug. Although only 9 per cent showed multidrug resistance, the researchers warned that C auris can persist for long periods on hospital surfaces and spread rapidly, making it a major healthcare-associated ‘superbug.’ While effective management of superbugs requires a multifaceted and collaborative approach, including responsible antibiotic use, rigorous infection prevention measures, and investment in research for new treatments, there are immediate preventive steps that can be implemented now, such as improving cleaning protocols and strengthening hand hygiene practices among healthcare workers.
The risk of ungoverned spread of superbugs and overuse of antibiotics in hospitals is public knowledge. The most recent National Antimicrobial Susceptibility Report revealed that multi-drug resistance in people had reached an all-time high of 82 per cent. The incidence of hospital-acquired infections caused by prolonged stays is also common knowledge. Another recent study published in the British scientific journal ‘Nature’ revealed alarming levels of airborne, multidrug-resistant bacteria in the air of several hospitals in Dhaka. The particulate matter levels recorded in hospital environments exceeded both national and World Health Organisation standards, with Dhaka Medical College Hospital recording the highest concentrations. Researchers attribute the spread of airborne superbugs in hospitals to overcrowding, outdated infrastructure, poor ventilation, and old furniture. The combination of these conditions is allowing bacteria to thrive and spread. It is, therefore, not a surprise that the Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report 2025 found several widely used antibiotics in Bangladesh are losing their effectiveness at alarming rates. Antibiotic resistance and the spread of superbugs in hospitals not only pose a risk in terms of mortality; they also become a financial burden, as people spend 15 per cent of their medicine cost on antibiotics in Bangladesh.
The government should, under the circumstances, take decisive action to contain hospital-acquired infection. In what follows, it should improve hospital infrastructure, enforce stringent infection control protocols, and upgrade ventilation systems. Additionally, the authorities must address the overuse of antibiotics through stricter regulations.
