A social movement has to be formed to contain Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) of bacteria, viruses and antifungals, said speakers at a discussion yesterday.

They were speaking at a consultation meeting with stakeholders, organised by Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) in Dhaka.

"This (AMR) is a universal problem that can make humankind go extinct. We cannot deal with this without being serious," said Prof Nazmul Islam, director of Communicable Disease Control at DGHS.

He said injudicious use, desperate marketing of the pharmaceutical companies and misconception among health professionals are among the reasons behind the evolution of the germs that can escape the drug's efficacy.

Prof Zakir Hossain Habib, chief scientific officer at IEDCR, who has been leading the AMR surveillance in nine hospitals, presented a summary of the AMR situation in the country.

Prof Zahidul Hasan, renowned microbiologist and senior consultant at Square Hospitals, said, "Cheaper drugs like Cotrim and Ciprofloxacin were used to cure any infection. But there are now ineffective and we need to prescribe antibiotics which are more potent and cost around Tk 20,000 to cure a common infection."

Rakibul Hasan, senior specialist at National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), said they have the scope to include a chapter on AMR in their proposed books on health education at secondary-level schools from 2024.

Prof Nitish Debnath, country lead of Fleming Fund Country Grant, also spoke at the event, presided over by Prof Tahmina Shirin, director of the IEDCR.