Study Identifies Antimicrobial Resistance in Bloodstream Infections in India: India News

A new study published in the journal Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia has raised concerns about the growing resistance to existing antibiotics and its impact on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The study, based on six-year data from 21 tertiary care centers in India, analyzed trends in antimicrobial resistance.

Researchers from the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conducted the study titled ‘Emerging trends in antimicrobial resistance in bloodstream infections: multicentric longitudinal study in India (2017-2022)’. The findings revealed significant monthly increases in resistance to antibiotics Imipenem and Meropenem, which are crucial for treating infections caused by bacteria such as Klebsiella, E. coli, and Acinetobacter.

The study highlighted the alarming rise in resistance to broad-spectrum antibiotics like Carbapenem in hospital-acquired bloodstream infections, surpassing community-acquired infections. E. coli and Klebsiella isolates were found to be highly resistant to Cephalosporins and Fluoroquinolones, with additional resistance to Carbapenems noted in the case of Klebsiella.

With an estimated 4.95 million deaths due to antimicrobial resistance in 2019 and projections suggesting up to 10 million annual deaths by 2050, the study emphasized the urgent need for interventions. Low and middle-income countries, including India, are particularly vulnerable to antimicrobial resistance, which could jeopardize the SDGs and push millions into extreme poverty by 2030.

The researchers stressed the importance of immediate and targeted interventions, increased funding, and effective local policies to contain antimicrobial resistance. The study’s findings underscore the escalating crisis of antimicrobial resistance and its implications for broader development goals.