Sri Lanka, Nov. 20 -- Health authorities have raised alarm over the widespread and indiscriminate use of antibiotics, cautioning that such practices are accelerating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and could render common treatments for infections increasingly ineffective.

Addressing a media briefing, Dr. Priyantha Atapattu of the National Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance stressed the urgent need for responsible antibiotic use, noting that medical professionals have observed years of misuse and overuse of these medicines.

"Antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites in humans, animals and plants. These medications may be antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal or antiparasitic," he explained....