41% ICU patients in Bangladesh resistant to all antibiotics
A recent national survey has sounded the alarm over a growing public health crisis in Bangladesh: 41 percent of patients admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are not responding to any antibiotics, highlighting the rapidly escalating problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the country.
The findings were unveiled on Monday at the new building of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) in Mohakhali, Dhaka. IEDCR Director Professor Dr. Tahmina Shirin and Chief Scientific Officer Professor Dr. Zakir Hossain Habib presented the results, which are based on a one-year case-based surveillance study conducted from July 2024 to June 2025.
Survey details: Scope and findings
The study analysed data from over 96,000 ICU patients across five major hospitals.
Samples were tested against 71 types of antibiotics, revealing that in a significant number of cases, none of the antibiotics were effective.
Professor Habib warned, “Indiscriminate use of antibiotics is increasing bacterial resistance. This AMR is now a major crisis for public health.” He urged the public to exercise caution when using antibiotics, stressing, “Save antibiotics, save yourself.”
Dhaka leads in antibiotic consumption
The survey also highlighted a stark concentration of antibiotic use in the capital. Dhaka accounts for 57 percent of the total antibiotics consumed nationwide, followed by Rajshahi, Chittagong, Khulna, Barisal, Rangpur, and Sylhet divisions. The high consumption is attributed to the density of specialized hospitals and medical facilities.
Patients suffering from urinary tract infections (UTIs) were identified as the group with the highest frequency of antibiotic use.
Top 10 most used antibiotics
The survey identified the following as the most commonly used antibiotics in Bangladesh:
Ceftriaxone
Cefixime
Meropenem
Ciprofloxacin
Azithromycin
Amoxicillin
Metronidazole
Cloxacillin
Piperacillin-tazobactam
Vancomycin
Experts warned that excessive use of these broad-spectrum antibiotics could worsen the situation, potentially leading to untreatable infections in the near future.
Rising resistance among WHO priority bacteria
The IEDCR report highlighted a disturbing trend: resistance is rapidly growing among the World Health Organization’s priority bacteria. Among them:
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE): Resistance rates range from 50 to 70 percent in many cases.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): Resistance is steadily rising.
Why AMR worsening in Bangladesh
Experts point to several contributing factors:
Unregulated use of antibiotics without medical advice
Free sale of antibiotics in pharmacies
Widespread use in livestock and poultry
Weak enforcement of drug control regulations
They warned that if immediate measures are not taken, even common infections could become fatal in the near future.
The IEDCR report underscores the urgent need for stricter antibiotic stewardship, public awareness campaigns, and stronger regulatory controls to combat the growing AMR crisis.