ICMR Report Warns of Rising Antibiotic Resistance in India
India is witnessing a rapid escalation in antimicrobial resistance, with several common infections becoming increasingly difficult to treat. The ICMR’s Antimicrobial Resistance Research & Surveillance Network report for 2024 reveals widespread failure of routinely prescribed antibiotics against major hospital-acquired pathogens.
Growing Resistance in Common Bacterial Infections
Analysis of nearly one lakh confirmed infection samples shows that Gram-negative bacteria dominate resistance patterns. E. coli, a frequent cause of urinary, abdominal and bloodstream infections, has shown declining susceptibility to multiple frontline antibiotics. Klebsiella pneumoniae remains resistant to piperacillin-tazobactam in most cases and displays high carbapenem resistance, severely curbing treatment options.
Critical Situation in Intensive Care Settings
Resistance levels in ICUs are particularly concerning. Acinetobacter baumannii demonstrates 91% resistance to meropenem, compelling clinicians to depend on complex or toxic drug regimens. Pseudomonas aeruginosa continues to present rising resistance levels. Overall, drug-resistant Gram-negative organisms account for 72% of bloodstream infections, and many ventilator-associated pneumonias involve pathogens unresponsive to high-end antibiotics.
Resistance Trends in Enteric and Fungal Pathogens
Diarrhoeal pathogens show high resistance to fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins, while more than 95% of Salmonella typhi samples resist fluoroquinolone therapy. Among fungal infections, Candida auris exhibits resistance in nearly one-tenth of isolates, and a significant portion of Aspergillus samples resist amphotericin B. Although modest improvements were observed in the sensitivity of E. coli to select agents, broader resistance patterns continue to deteriorate.
Exam Oriented Facts
- ICMR AMRSN 2024 analysed nearly one lakh hospital infection samples.
- Gram-negative bacteria caused 72% of bloodstream infections.
- Acinetobacter baumannii shows 91% meropenem resistance in ICUs.
- Over 95% Salmonella typhi samples are fluoroquinolone-resistant.
Urgent Call for Stewardship and Infection Control
Experts warn that India’s most widely used antibiotics are rapidly losing effectiveness, placing critically ill patients at heightened risk. Clinicians stress that rational antibiotic use, strengthened stewardship programmes and stringent infection-prevention systems are essential to preserve the remaining therapeutic options and avert a looming public-health crisis.
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