Wang Yuanyuan
| Zhong Nanshan presents a student with her laboratory uniform at the opening ceremony of Shenzhen University Medical College on Monday. Cheng Haikun |
A MEDICAL specialist said Monday that drug-resistant bacteria had become a global issue and China had a “very serious problem” with the misuse of antibiotics.
Speaking at Shenzhen University on Monday, the director of Guangzhou’s respiratory disease research center, Zhong Nanshan, said antibiotics should not be used to treat 70 percent of colds.
“Those who need antibiotics account for less than 20 percent of patients. However, 90 percent of doctors prescribe antibiotics for flu, colds and viral infections, which has helped in the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria,” Zhong said.
Many people were unaware that antibiotics were ineffective against viruses, which include the common cold and influenza. Excessive use of antibiotics around the world was causing bacteria to adapt and become immune to the drugs.
The “superbug” NDM-1, which is resistant to even the most powerful antibiotics, is thought to be the direct result of the overuse of antibiotics. At least 200 people in the world have contracted NDM-1 and several had died.
Zhong expressed the fear that China could soon be hit hard by superbugs.
Source： Shenzhen Daily Editor： 洪志科