Sri Lanka's antibiotic crisis deepens as hospital study reveals alarming resistance trends

A study published in BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology in 2026 has examined antibiotic use in a major hospital in Northern Sri Lanka. The research tracked patterns over five years, revealing troubling trends in the consumption of critical antibiotics. It highlights growing challenges in managing resistance in low-resource healthcare settings. The study focused on systemic antibiotic consumption at a tertiary care hospital between 2021 and 2026. Researchers observed a steady rise in the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, with notable seasonal peaks. These spikes often aligned with higher rates of respiratory infections and increased hospital admissions.

Carbapenems, a last-resort antibiotic class, showed a particularly sharp increase in consumption. The authors also noted economic consequences, such as longer hospital stays and greater reliance on expensive, higher-generation drugs due to resistant infections.

Challenges included limited data, slow diagnostic tools, and weak antimicrobial stewardship programmes. The research emphasised the need for better surveillance to link antibiotic use with resistance trends. It also called for stronger stewardship initiatives and patient education to curb misuse. The findings underline the urgency of coordinated action against antibiotic resistance in vulnerable regions. The study recommends establishing robust stewardship programmes and improving diagnostic capabilities. Without intervention, rising resistance could worsen patient outcomes and strain healthcare resources further.