Injudicious Use Research Articles

199 An Audit Cycle of Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Abstract Aim Due to the lack of clinical benefit and the risks of unnecessary antimicrobial use, current national guidelines do not recommend prophylactic antibiotic use in low-risk elective laparoscopic cholecystectomies, reserving their use for high-risk patients only. The aim of this audit was to assess compliance with local and national guidelines for antibiotic usage for laparoscopic cholecystectomies, to identify areas of improvement, implement change and re-audit to assess the effectiveness of this change. Method Data was collected retrospectively between 01/05/2021 and 01/08/2021 for patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Following the initial data collection, we implemented change by attaching pre-printed stickers of local antibiotic prophylaxis guidance to pre-operative notes. We prospectively re-audited between 01/11/21 and 01/12/21 to assess the effectiveness of this change. Results In the initial three-month period, 24.4% (10/41) of elective cases received correct antibiotic prophylaxis, with 58.5% of patients prescribed unnecessary post-operative antibiotics in the post-operative plan. Following the implementation of change, in the re-audit period there was a significant improvement, with 55% (11/20) of elective cases receiving correct antibiotic prophylaxis, and only 25% prescribed unnecessary post-operative antibiotics. Conclusions We show that pre-printed stickers are a simple intervention that can improve adherence to local guidance and reduce injudicious use of antibiotics in the pre- and post-operative periods. Improving antibiotic prescribing for laparoscopic cholecystectomies, one of the United Kingdom's most common surgical procedures, highlights the potential for significant cost savings and improved antimicrobial stewardship. We will re-audit again in the coming months to assess if this improvement has been sustained.

Efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin SBI-Ma-SF 5 strain against tomato fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidopetra: Noctuidae)

The polyphagous tomato fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) causes yield loss of 40 – 60 per cent under favourable conditions in Tomato. The farmers rely upon chemical insecticides for its management and its injudicious use leads to unwarranted problems. The use of bio pesticides as a component of integrated pest management is one of the important factor to overcome the pesticides related issue. Among the bio-pesticides entomopathogenic fungi proved their ability against many Lepidopterans. The pathogenicity of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin SBI SF Ma 5 strain was studied against tomato fruit borer H. armigera. The median concentration (LC50) of M. anisopliae SBI Ma SF 1 strain was 3.1 x 108 conidia/ml with fiducial limits 2.2 x 107 to 4.2 x 109 conidia/ml. The median lethal time (LT50) value was to be 6.53 days. The SBI SF Ma 5 strain caused 88.83 per cent mortality in second instar H. armigera at 1 x 109 conidia/ml concentration. The decrease in conidial concentration reduced the efficacy of M. anisopliae strain. This strain can be used in the H. armigera management after field evaluation.

Etiology, Diagnosis, Complications, and Management of Acute Otitis Media in Children.

Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most common infectious disease encountered by children under the age of two years and the most common cause of antibiotic use in children in the United States. AOM causes irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, imbalance, and dizziness in patients, especially young children. This assessment was conducted to measure the effectiveness of surgical interventions in treating AOM. We reviewed the present findings regarding the etiology, clinical presentations, diagnosis, treatment, and surgical treatment of complications of AOM. Pain associated with AOM (otalgia) can be severe enough to cause parents to seek treatment for their infants or children. Various suggested measures have been used to treat AOM; antibiotic treatment with amoxicillin is still the treatment of choice for AOM, yet other antibiotics may be used in cases of allergy to penicillin or recent use of amoxicillin. Surgical intervention has been introduced and studied as a diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive measure for AOM; nevertheless, a few studies have shown that surgical interventions are beneficial in treating and preventing AOM compared to the common practice of using antibiotics. Overdiagnosis of AOM is widespread, leading to injudicious antibiotic use, which contributes to antibiotic resistance. Further management should be determined together with the parent, particularly if observation is the primary intervention.

In Silico Characterization of Uncharacterized Proteins From Multiple Strains of Clostridium Difficile.

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a multi-strain, spore-forming, Gram-positive, opportunistic enteropathogen bacteria, majorly associated with nosocomial infections, resulting in severe diarrhoea and colon inflammation. Several antibiotics including penicillin, tetracycline, and clindamycin have been employed to control C. difficile infection, but studies have suggested that injudicious use of antibiotics has led to the development of resistance in C. difficile strains. However, many proteins from its genome are still considered uncharacterized proteins that might serve crucial functions and assist in the biological understanding of the organism. In this study, we aimed to annotate and characterise the 6 C. difficile strains using in silico approaches. We first analysed the complete genome of 6 C. difficile strains using standardised approaches and analysed hypothetical proteins (HPs) employing various bioinformatics approaches coalescing, including identifying contigs, coding sequences, phage sequences, CRISPR-Cas9 systems, antimicrobial resistance determination, membrane helices, instability index, secretory nature, conserved domain, and vaccine target properties like comparative homology analysis, allergenicity, antigenicity determination along with structure prediction and binding-site analysis. This study provides crucial supporting information about the functional characterization of the HPs involved in the pathophysiology of the disease. Moreover, this information also aims to assist in mechanisms associated with bacterial pathogenesis and further design candidate inhibitors and bona fide pharmaceutical targets.

Mulching as a Sustainable Water and Soil Saving Practice in Agriculture: A Review

This research was carried out in order to demonstrate that mulching the ground helps to conserve water, because agricultural sustainability in dryland contexts is threatened by drought, heat stress, and the injudicious use of scarce water during the cropping season by minimizing surface evaporation. Improving soil moisture conservation is an ongoing priority in crop outputs where water resources are restricted and controlled. One of the reasons for the desire to use less water in agriculture is the rising demand brought on by the world’s growing population. In this study, the use of organic or biodegradable mulches was dominated by organic materials, while inorganic mulches are mostly comprised of plastic-based components. Plastic film, crop straw, gravel, volcanic ash, rock pieces, sand, concrete, paper pellets, and livestock manures are among the materials put on the soil surface. Mulching has several essential applications, including reducing soil water loss and soil erosion, enriching soil fauna, and improving soil properties and nutrient cycling in the soil. It also reduces the pH of the soil, which improves nutrient availability. Mulching reduces soil deterioration by limiting runoff and soil loss, and it increases soil water availability by reducing evaporation, managing soil temperature, or reducing crop irrigation requirements. This review paper extensively discusses the benefits of organic or synthetic mulches for crop production, as well as the uses of mulching in soil and water conservation. As a result, it is very important for farmers to choose mulching rather than synthetic applications.

Prescribing Pattern of Antibiotics in Respiratory Tract Infections in the Pediatric Indoor Patients at Manipal Teaching Hospital

Introduction: Respiratory tract infections are the most frequently occurring illness in childhood and antibiotics are the key drugs for its treatment which account for three-quarters of all antibiotics prescriptions. Injudicious use of antibiotics leads to the development of resistance, patients are at high risk for opportunistic infections or prolonged hospitalization. This study aimed to assess the prescribing pattern of antibiotics for respiratory tract infections in the pediatric indoor patients of Manipal Teaching Hospital.
 Methods: This study is a prospective cross-sectional study done in the paediatrics ward of Manipal Teaching Hospital Pokhara, conducted for six months. Patients aged range from 1 day to 14 years who meet the inclusion criteria were taken in this study. Data were collected from the inpatient ward and analysed using various statistical tools.
 Results: Among 170 patients, a maximum(43.3%) were in the age group of 1 day to 11 months with male predominance(74.1%). Bronchopneumonia was the most common respiratory tract infection (51.8%) followed by bronchiolitis (13%). Chest x-ray was done in all patients however blood culture was done only in 60.6% and an antibiotic sensitivity test (27.6%) before prescribing antibiotics. Cefotaxime was prescribed in maximum patients (62.4%) followed by ceftriaxone (17.1%). All the patients received at least one antibiotic by i.v route during the hospital stay.
 Conclusion: Since culture and sensitivity tests were not carried out on most of the patients before prescribing antibiotics in this study, which might lead to an increased chance of bacterial resistance and treatment failure in the future.

Conventional Practice of use of Cotton Bud in External Auditory Canal and it’s Complications

Objectives: To find out the complications arise from use of cotton bud in external auditory canal. Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out from January 2020- December 2020 in Pabna medical college hospital. About 100 patients with complications of cotton bud use were included in this study. Diagnosis was based on the history and otoscopic examination. Results: In this study most of the cases were age group 0-10 years -30%, 10-50-years 30%, 50-60- years 10%, more than 60 years 40%. Common Complications were Infection of external auditory canal 50%, injury to external auditory canal 40% and injury to tympanic membrane 10%. Conclusion: Injudicious use of Cotton bud has injurious effect for external auditory canal and should be avoided. Bangladesh J Otorhinolaryngol 2022; 28(1): 91-95

COVID-19 and Tuberculosis: A perspective of Bangladesh

Tuberculosis is our old enemy while COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) is a novel one. Both diseases have many similarities in terms of target organ affected, transmission, clinical presentations. COVID-19 is a fast-track novel pandemic while tuberculosis is a slow-moving pandemic. As control measures, countries all over the globe have enforced lockdown to halt the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but this stringent method has a negative impact on access to the health care delivery system. It seems that there is a dropping of new case findings, but modeling projection by WHO estimates that the total number of tuberculosis cases will rise by 2025. Bangladesh is a high Tuberculosis burden country in the south Asia region. Worldwide COVID-19 has a negative impact on tuberculosis diagnosis and management strategy. Bangladesh has impending threat to rise in tuberculosis case in future because of lockdown process, densely populated nation, poverty, reallocation of tuberculosis diagnostic facility and trained staff to diagnose COVID-19 and collapse of DOTS (directly observed treatment, short-course) program of NTP (national tuberculosis control program), rampant use of immunosuppressant’s including steroid, biologics. Prompt tuberculosis case detection, digital supervised drug delivery, avoidance of injudicious use of steroids, biologics to treat COVID-19, and testing for both COVID-19 and tuberculosis should be simultaneously undertaken to tackle this overwhelming situation. Eradication of psycho-social stigma about these two diseases is essential for preventing a perfect storm. BSMMU J 2022; 15(1): 54-56

Efficacy of Different Drugs Used in COVID Patients in Bangladesh

Background: COVID 19 era is continuing globally even one and half years of turning out and claiming lives and startled with newly emerged variants. Many studies regarding COVID 19 treatment were published but some options were beneficiary in early stage and later were contradictory to apply it, making clinicians to dim. So this study was carried out reveal potential efficacy of commonly prescribed regimen in COVID unit. Materials and methods: This observational study conducted in three dedicated COVID hospital in Chattogram, Bangladesh. Total 209 cases with RT-PCR positive and symptomatic cases with RT-PCR negative subjects were enrolled in this study. Results: Half of the patients 53% (n=111) who got antiviral remdisivir, 53.6% n=103 were improved, 46.7% n=7 was died and p value < 0.01,comparing to 28.2% (n=59) got favipiravir in whom, 27.6% n=53 were improved, 40% n=6 was died. 16.3% (n=34) patient got Tocilizumab, in whom 73.52% n=25 were improved, 23.52% n=8 was died. 8.6% (n=18) got convalescent plasma in whom 6.3% n=12 was improved, 40% n=6 was died and p value was significant. Those who were given both Tocilizumab and Remdisivir, 76.9% n=20 were improved and 19.2% n=5 were died in comparison to patient treated with Remdisivir only 97.6% n=83 were improved and 2.3% n-2 were died. Conclusion: Even after 18 months of starting COVID, only established treatment options are oxygen and dexamethasone. As data about efficacy of antiviral and others are so changing according to COVID variants and different country. So emphasize should be about prevention and avoiding injudicious use of anti COVID medications. IAHS Medical Journal Vol 5(1), June 2022; 56-59

Evaluation of Piperacillin/Tazobactam Use and Resistance Ppattern in a Teaching Hospital, Northwest Iran

Background: Inappropriate use of broad-spectrum antibiotics has contributed to the emergence of resistant microorganisms, increased treatment costs, morbidity and mortality, drug toxicity, and prolonged hospitalization period. Determining the epidemiology of antibiotic resistance in various hospital wards allows for more precise drug selection in the hospital setting. This study evaluated the use and resistance pattern of a broad-spectrum antibiotic, Piperacillin/tazobactam, in Imam Khomeini, a referral teaching hospital in Urmia, Iran.
 Methods: All hospitalized patients who were treated with Piperacillin\Tazobactam from January to August 2018 were included. Demographic (age, sex, weight, comorbidities) and clinical data (Indication, dosing, duration of the treatment, susceptibility test, creatinine clearance, need for dose adjustment, clinical outcome, and mortality) of the patients were collected, and the compliance of piperacillin\tazobactam administration and its resistance pattern was assessed according to Lexi-comp- 2019 recommendations.
 Results: Among 177 patients, 88.7% received piperacillin\tazobactam without any appropriate susceptibility tests. The piperacillin disk was used in only 33.3% of the culture-positive cases in our research, with 70% resistance. Acinetobacter was the most common bacteria found in our culture-positive samples. The average duration of piperacillin\tazobactam treatment was 8.52 ± 5.84 days. Indications in 8.5%, doses in 18.5%, prescription period in 19.7%, and dose intervals in 31.4% of the cases were inappropriate. Piperacillin\tazobactam was mainly administered for pneumonia (34.5%)
 Conclusion: This study showed an injudicious use of Piperacillin/tazobactam in our hospital, evidenced by the significant number of inappropriate doses, intervals, and treatment duration. Decision-making based on susceptibility tests using appropriate and accurate methods, close monitoring of the patients' clinical status, including creatinine clearance, and antimicrobial stewardship programs may optimize the rational administration of broad-spectrum antimicrobials and avoid the emergence of bacterial resistance.

Fitness costs in Oxycarenus hyalinipennis Costa (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) associated with laboratory-selected resistance to imidacloprid

The use of insecticides is widespread for the management of insect pest populations. Injudicious use of insecticides is responsible for rapid development of resistance, environmental pollution and human health problems. Insecticide resistance is a great problem in managing insect pest populations of different crops using insecticides. The evolution of resistance may also affect other fitness parameters of resistant insects. In our study, the impact of imidacloprid resistance development on the fitness parameters of Oxycarenus hyalinipennis Costa (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) and resistance stability was evaluated. After undergoing 19 generations of development selecting for resistance to imidacloprid, the imidacloprid selected (Imida-Sel) strain of O. hyalinipennis developed 55.30-fold and 146.50-fold resistance compared to UNSEL and susceptible strain, respectively. Imidacloprid resistance was found unstable and the resistant strain reverted towards susceptibility after cessation of insecticide selection pressure for eight generations. The value for Rf (relative fitness) was 0.41 for Imida-Sel with a significant reduction in mean relative growth rate (MRGR), intrinsic rate of natural increase (Rm) and net reproductive rate (Ro). Values of Rf for C1 and C2 were 0.85 and 0.77, respectively. The present study was designed to propose a comprehensive strategy for suppression of O. hyalinipennis. O. hyalinipennis exhibits potential for developing imidacloprid resistance, but the resistance was unstable and manageable with insecticide rotation. In addition, the fitness disadvantage associated with imidacloprid resistance may also slow down field evolution of imidacloprid resistance.

Self-medication Practices and Associated Factors among COVID-19 Recovered Patients to Prevent Future Infections: A Web-based Survey in Bangladesh

Background: Human health is largely affected by self-medication in both ways, adversely and favorably, as evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The fear of spreading novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from health workers and hospital environments has led many Bangladeshi people to practice self-medicate for as the preventive strategy against this disease. Consequently, this practice entails an improper and injudicious use of medicine to cure self-recognized symptoms. To date, the COVID-19 has no effective treatment. The lack of a cure for COVID-19 and the continual progression of the diseases in educational settings induce a substantial population to practice self-medication. Therefore, a study of self-medication practices is necessary for the framework of the pandemic. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with selfmedication to prevent or manage future COVID-19 infections among recovered COVID-19 patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted since September 2020 to February 2021 using an e-survey along with 360 participants (>18 years). Data were collected using a pre-tested self-reported questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and correlations analysis were performed in the study. Results: Among 360 (male 69.7% and female 30.3%) participants, the prevalence of selfmedication is 11%, and monthly family income, residence, education, occupation, and previous history of SM are the associated factors. Among the participants, 29.7% use antibiotics, and 30% use herbal products/drugs as medication. Conclusion: The present study found SMP is moderately prevalent among COVID-19 recovered patients. To minimize the rate of SMP, adequate health care– access systems and public education should be introduced, and media and community should be engaged in rational use of medication.

Subinhibitory Concentrations of Antibiotics Exacerbate Staphylococcal Infection by Inducing Bacterial Virulence.

ABSTRACTAntibiotics are widely used for the treatment of bacterial infections. However, injudicious use of antibiotics based on an empirical method may lead to the emergence of resistant strains. Despite appropriate administration of antibiotics, their concentrations may remain subinhibitory in the body, due to individual variations in tissue distribution and metabolism rates. This may promote bacterial virulence and complicate the treatment strategies. To investigate whether the administration of certain classes of antibiotics will induce bacterial virulence and worsen the infection under in vivo conditions. Different classes of antibiotics were tested in vitro for their ability to induce virulence in a methicillin-resistant S. aureus strain Mu3 and clinical isolates. Antibiotic-induced pathogenicity was assessed in vivo using mouse peritonitis and bacteremia models. In vitro, β-lactam antibiotics and tetracyclines induced the expression of multiple surface-associated virulence factors as well as the secretion of toxins. In peritonitis and bacteremia models, mice infected with MRSA and treated with ampicillin, ceftazidime, or tetracycline showed enhanced bacterial pathogenicity. The release of induced virulence factors in vivo was confirmed in a histological examination. Subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics belonging to β-lactam and tetracycline aggravated infection by inducing staphylococcal virulence in vivo. Thus, when antibiotics are required, it is preferable to employ combination therapy and to initiate the appropriate treatment plan, following diagnosis. Our findings emphasize the risks associated with antibiotic-based therapy and underline the need for alternative therapeutic options.IMPORTANCE Antibiotics are widely applied to treat infectious diseases. Empirically treatment with incorrect antibiotics, or even correct antibiotics always falls into subinhibitory concentrations, due to dosing, distribution, or secretion. In this study, we have systematically evaluated in vitro virulence induction effect of antibiotics and in vivo exacerbated infection. The major highlight of this work is to prove the β-lactam and tetracyclines antibiotics exacerbated disease is due to their induction effect on staphylococcal virulence. This phenomenon is common and suggests that if β-lactam antibiotics remain the first line of defense during empirical therapy, we either need to increase patient reliability or the treatment approach may improve in the future when paired with anti-virulence drugs.

Integrated Nutrient Management: A Long-term Approach towards Sustainability

Increased global food demand, as well as the need for an environmentally acceptable approach for a sustainable soil-plant-microbe-environmental system, necessitate special attention when it comes to agricultural productivity. Chemical fertilization is one approach to increase crop productivity as happened during the Green revolution. Food grain output in India increased from 115.6 million tonnes in 1960-61 to over 281.37 million tonnes in 2018-19 as a result of chemical fertilization. Similarly, yearly fertilizer use jumped from 0.07 million tonnes in 1951-52 to over 25.95 million tonnes in 2016-17.But due to injudicious use of chemical fertilizers soil, plant, human and animal health are at stake. Also, increased soil compaction and widespread multinutrient deficits have emerged as important restrictions limiting crop productivity and farm income. Because a major rise in fertilizer consumption is unlikely in the near future for economic and environmental reasons, there is a need to improve nutrient use efficiency through integrated and balanced fertilizer. On the other hand, organic manures, are unable to fulfill all of a crop's nutritional needs. Integrated nutrient management (INM) was created as a result of the aforesaid factors being taken into account. In this paper,role of INM in overcoming these difficulties is discussed, as it has been offered as a promising solution for tackling these issues. Plant performance and resource efficiency can be improved in a variety of ways with INM while also allowing for environmental and resource protection quality. With the use of advanced INM procedures, chemical fertilizer inputs are reduced, resulting in fewer human and environmental costs without any negative impact on crop production.Long-term research in various soil-crop situations have demonstrated the advantages of integrated nutrient management (INM), which includes the utilisation of organic and biological resources as well as fertilizers. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the effect of various INM components on Physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil, nutrient use efficiency, crop productivity and the role of these components in improving soil health. The majority of INM research has been done using dominant crop rotations of main field crops cultivated in the subtropical North Western states of India and most of the experiments revealed that INM leads to long term sustainable production along with providing nutritional security and also reduces pollution and enhances soil health by improving various physical, chemical and biological properties of soil.

Next-Generation Approaches Needed to Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance for the Development of Novel Therapies Against the Deadly Pathogens.

The advent of antimicrobials was a miracle that saved millions of lives across the globe. With the discovery of penicillin, varieties of other antimicrobials came into play one after another. However, the injudicious use of antimicrobials for therapeutics and prophylactics and overuse in agriculture and animal husbandry industries resulted in its gloominess and rise of antimicrobial resistance. The microbes have slowly outsmarted the human race with diverse mechanisms to evade the antimicrobial effects of the drugs in use. The review aims to discuss the emergence of resistance in bacterial species with time and the various means by which bacterial cells had safeguarded themselves. In addition to that, we have also highlighted new approaches currently used to tackle antimicrobial resistance or practices that could be useful in identifying new treatment options.

Antifungal Drugs Shortage in India amidst Looming Increase in Invasive Fungal Infections among COVID-19 Patients: An Impending Crisis.

The widespread prevalence of fungal infections in the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic could be owed to ubiquitous and injudicious use of steroids and immunosuppressive nature of the virus. However, these fungal infections also meant increased use of antifungal drugs, hence endangering their supply. Amphotericin B is the first line drug for mucormycosis which was declared as an epidemic in India during the second wave. With the increasing demand of the drug, came challenges to manufacture and supply large quantities of the drug and exploitation by creating a black market and spread of false information and imprudent usage. It is of utmost importance to be prepared with adequate supply all over the nation and implementing safety regulations in manufacturing and supply of large quantities of drugs during the demanding times and make them accessible at a reasonable rate.

Resurgence of mucormycosis during COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectiveTo explore the literature on corona-associated mucormycosis and explain its relevance to dentists and oral surgeons. MethodsA literature search was carried out to identify reported cases on corona-associated mucormycosis since the start of COVID-19 pandemic. ResultsA review of literature identified 265 published papers on CAM between March 2020 and September 2021. Careful screening of abstracts and full texts revealed 29 studies reporting case series of CAM and, 27 case reports on CAM. ConclusionsA multitude of factors may be responsible for the alarming rise in the incidence of corona-associated mycosis including reduced access to routine medical services during the pandemic, injudicious use of antibiotics, steroids and nutritional supplements. Risk factors contributing to corona-associated mucormycosis need to be recognized. Dentists and oral surgeons can contribute to early recognition of corona-associated mucormycosis involving the maxilla, and palate. Prioritizing research focus on optimal management of mucormycosis may reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this debilitating infection.

Rational use of antibiotics for major elective gynaecological and obstetrical surgical procedures: quality improvement journey from a tertiary care public facility

BackgroundAntibiotic resistance is a global problem. Irrational use of antibiotics is rampant. Guidelines recommend administration of single dose of antibiotic for surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SSAP) for elective obstetrical and gynaecological...

Effect of pesticide toxicity in aquatic environments: A recent review

Pesticides are widely used in modern agriculture to enhance the quantity and quality of yield in an effective and economical manner, leading to improved food security worldwide. Organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates and pyrethroids are the four major groups of pesticides used. However, with increasing pesticide use, especially in developing countries, the risk of its toxicity caused by them is on the rise. Despite a low per hectare use of pesticides in India, their injudicious use has led to the presence of pesticide residues in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. It has been observed that major riverine ecosystems like Ganges, Yamuna, Cauvery, Tapi and many others show the presence of pesticides in the water column as well as the river bed sediments. Pesticides tend to bioaccumulate in the food chain. Agricultural runoff into aquatic systems raises the risk of exposure of pesticides to non-target species, leading to adverse consequences on the ecosystem. In this review, an attempt has been made to critically review the usage of pesticides in India, their entry into riverine ecosystems and the impact of pesticides on freshwater microorganisms, invertebrates and vertebrates. The review of legislation in India to control pesticide usage shows that proper implementation of the laws is needed on an urgent basis.

The Next Pandemic

The Next Pandemic