Penicillin, the first antibiotic, was discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming in 1928. This groundbreaking discovery ignited hope for scientists in combating infectious diseases.

However, nearly a century later, disease-causing microorganisms remain prevalent globally. Antibiotics treat infections by either killing or inhibiting bacteria, boosting the immune system’s response.

Unfortunately, antibiotic resistance has emerged, enabling bacteria to survive treatment, therefore complicating the disease. Multi-drug resistant pathogens pose a significant threat to global health, causing approximately 700,000 deaths annually and potentially increasing to 10 million deaths by 2050 with economic losses reaching $100 trillion unless urgent action is taken.

Antibiotic resistance in Nigeria creates a pressing concern, with far-reaching consequences for public health and the economy. According to documented scientific reports from the country, approximately 85% of the bacteria recovered from blood and urinary tract infections showed resistance to generally used antibiotics. The rising trend is notably prevalent in Northern Nigeria, where bacteria like Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus, have developed resistance to widely used antibiotics such as third-generation cephalosporins, methicillin, ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The implications of this development are numerous, ranging from increased cost of treatment, to high prevalence of diseases and preventable deaths caused by these resistant strains.

World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the spread of drug-resistant infections leads to longer hospitalizations, increased medical costs and higher fatality rates. Nigeria has one of the highest rates of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) globally. Tuberculosis is a highly contagious bacteria disease which can spread from person to person making the risk of a local pandemic alarming. The situation is further complicated by the fact that MDR-TB strain is resistant to most affordable drugs, making treatments challenging for the masses.

Nigeria’s antibiotic crisis is fueled by improper use of antibiotics, widespread availability without prescriptions and inadequate public awareness. Health care providers’ poor communication exacerbates the issue. Additionally, the absence of structure regulations in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical companies exacerbate the antibiotics resistance. Agricultural and environmental factors ,pharmaceutical waste and antibiotic use in cattles further complicate disease control.

The resolution of the antibiotic resistance problem in Nigeria requires a crucial multi-faceted approach. This involves promoting public awareness about the risks of misusing antibiotics and the importance of following prescribed dosages,as recommended by the World Health Organization. Strong legislation and prescribed-based monitoring access can also significantly reduce unnecessary consumption in both humans and animals environments.

Furthermore, individuals must take responsibility for their health by avoiding indiscriminate antibiotic consumption through self medication, drug abuse and misuse. Adopting proper self hygiene ,adhering to medical advice and following prescriptions can save lives from disease resistance to antibiotics. Medical personnel should also ensure proper diagnosis and deploy effective treatments against specific diseases. Regular orientation and training for all medical personnel at all various levels of government is essential to update their knowledge about the latest developments in chemotherapy and new products produced. Scientific research should also be encouraged both locally and globally to be able to combat antibiotic resistance. By implementing these strategies, Nigeria can overcome antibiotic resistance, ensuring a safer and healthier nation.

Adewole Adewale Adeboye is a well trained Microbiologist, public health biotechnologist and a seasoned Academic writer based in the United States where he currently pursue advance skills and knowledge for drug development to benefit humanity.