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Pune’s SPPU to hold awareness programme on antimicrobial resistance from February 3

The SPPU programme on antimicrobial resistance will include expert talks, science-based plays, campus awareness marches, radio podcasts, oral presentations by PhD scholars, and a quiz.

2 min readPuneUpdated: Dec 25, 2025 02:14 PM IST

In November, the department had conducted a similar programme for education, awareness, and responsible antimicrobial use to curb the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. (Express Photo)

The Department of Microbiology at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) will conduct a three-day awareness programme for students from February 3 on the issue of antimicrobial resistance, caused by the misuse and improper use of antibiotics.

The programme will include various activities and competitions, including expert talks, science-based plays, campus awareness marches, radio podcasts, oral presentations by PhD scholars, poster presentations by postgraduate scholars, and a quiz for undergraduate scholars.

Antibiotics, a type of medicine that fights against bacteria, are essential in surgeries and used to fight deadly diseases such as tuberculosis. However, their improper use leads to the development of bacteria that are resistant to these drugs.

Professor Karishma Pardesi, head of the Microbiology Department at SPPU, stated that the issue in India is that there are numerous options for obtaining over-the-counter medicines, and antibiotics are readily available.

“So, anyone who has a common cold or cough and they have a previous antibiotic prescription, the easy option they see is to go to a pharmacist and get the antibiotic. Or they go directly to the pharmacist and get the medicine. It may just be a viral infection where an antibiotic is never going to work. Or sometimes they take it and feel good in the first dose, so they stop taking it after that. This contributes to the growing resistance. Slowly, the available choice of antibiotics is declining, which is a major problem.”

Professor Pardesi said, “Our department’s research theme is to work on antimicrobial organisms and understand the alternative therapeutics other than antibiotics against them.”

In November, the department had conducted a similar programme for education, awareness, and responsible antimicrobial use to curb the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance as part of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week. This included a keynote lecture by Dr Archana Rath, Principal Investigator, AMR Lab, University of Mumbai.

Soham Shah

Soham Shah is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous and research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Background Role: Correspondent coverig education and city affairs in Pune. Specialization: His primary beat is education, but he also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights, and state politics. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reports, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-centric reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human-rights stories: 1. Investigations & Governance "Express Impact: Mother's name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following his earlier reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documents. "44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest" (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative piece on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education & Campus Life Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative piece on professor vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6" (July 2): This detailed piece unpacks reasons behind why the state's move to introduce a third language from class 1 was controversial. "Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report" (Jan 2025): Analyzing discrepancies in the state's education data despite rising student numbers. 3. Human Rights & Social Issues "Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend" (Dec 17, 2025): A deeply personal and hard-hitting opinion piece/column on the "crime of love" and honor killings in modern India. "'People disrespect the disabled': Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians" (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyber-bullying. Signature Style Soham is known for his civil-liberties lens. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized—whether it's students fighting for campus democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents struggling with crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his "Breathless Pune" contributions). He is adept at linking hyper-local Pune issues to larger national conversations about law and liberty. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 ... Read More

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