Dhaka leads in the highest antibiotic usage

Staff Reporter :

According to recent research, antibiotic usage in Dhaka’s intensive care units (ICUs) is significantly higher compared to other regions of Bangladesh, sparking alarm among healthcare experts.

The study reveals a troubling rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in both government and private hospital ICUs, with many strains now resistant to all available antibiotics. The latest report from the National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Surveillance shows that 41per cent of samples collected from ICUs contain pan-drug-resistant (PDR) bacteria, meaning no antibiotics remain effective against them.

Across hospitals nationwide, antibiotic-resistant infections stand at 46per cent, while in Dhaka’s ICUs, this figure climbs to an alarming 89per cent. The research further highlights that 57per cent of the country’s total antibiotic use occurs solely in Dhaka, where patient density, specialised hospitals, and healthcare accessibility are highest.

While this reflects improved medical infrastructure, it also intensifies the risk of uncontrollable bacterial resistance. Compared to other regions such as Rajshahi, Chittagong, Khulna, Barisal, Rangpur, and Sylhet, Dhaka’s antibiotic consumption rate is the highest, a trend researchers warn is deeply concerning.

The findings indicate that formidable bacteria responsible for severe infections have developed resistance even to the most advanced antibiotics, making treatment difficult and increasing mortality risk. Experts warn that the growing spread of PDR bacteria in ICUs could lead to a post-antibiotic crisis, where common infections become potentially fatal due to lack of effective drugs. Females constitute 60per cent of antibiotic users in the study.

with the highest usage among young adults aged 21 to 30.
The study identifies Escherichia coli (E. coli) as responsible for 35per cent of infections, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae at 19.2per cent. Professor Dr. Zakir Hossain Habib, Chief Scientific Officer of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), cautioned that Bangladesh is rapidly heading towards a dangerous post-antibiotic era, threatening routine medical care and infection management.

Without strict control over antibiotic use, experts fear the country’s healthcare system may face severe challenges in the near future. The AMR surveillance research has been ongoing since 2016 under WHO’s Global Action Plan, analyzing clinical samples from 96,477 patients across 13 sentinel sites and 24 laboratories nationwide between July 2024 and June 2025.

This study underscores the urgent need for enhanced antibiotic stewardship to safeguard the future of healthcare in Bangladesh.