A simple cough, cold, or wound medicine is becoming increasingly dangerous. The reason? Superbugs, that is, bacteria that resist even standard antibiotics. People who take unnecessary antibiotics for minor illnesses may find these medicines no longer work for them.

A recent study published in The Lancet revealed a startling fact: 83% of patients visiting hospitals in India already carry drug-resistant bacteria. This means treatments fail even before they begin.

Every year, millions of people die because of antibiotic resistance, prompting the government to declare it the ‘next national health emergency’.

Superbugs are bacteria that defeat antibiotics, even those prescribed by doctors. The latest study (November 2025) by AIG Hospital, Hyderabad, surveyed patients from nine countries.

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