‘Superbugs’ and Antibiotic Resistance

Over seven lakh people in India die of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria every year. This is because antibiotics used against harmful bacteria are becoming less effective. Certain strains of drug-resistant bacteria make treatment of infections much difficult. Bacterial infections that were treatable earlier, no longer respond to antibiotics. This means that these superbugs have become more dangerous and threatening. To kill these bugs, more aggressive and stronger antibiotic combinations are used, which can cause unwanted side effects. ‘Superbugs: The End of Antibiotics?’, the travelling exhibition at Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai, helps create awareness regarding this huge crisis. The exhibition has travelled to London, New York, China and Argentina. It has now been customized to the Indian scenario.