ICMR Report Highlights ‘Antibiotic Resistance’ To UTIs, Typhoid, And Pneumonia

New Delhi:  A recent report by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that diseases like urinary tract infections (UTIs), blood infections, pneumonia, and typhoid have developed resistance to commonly used antibiotics, making treatment more difficult.

The ICMR’s Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Surveillance Network released its 2023 annual report, the seventh comprehensive review of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) trends, based on data collected from January to December 2023. The findings show a worrying increase in antibiotic resistance nationwide.

The report concentrated on frequently used antibiotics for treating conditions like upper respiratory infections, fevers, diarrhoea, pneumonia, sepsis, community-acquired pneumonia, and various bloodstream infections.

Previously, a survey by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) under the Union Health Ministry found that nearly half of the antibiotics prescribed in India contribute to antimicrobial resistance.

Here are the detailed findings

The report, based on data from hospitals and clinics across India from January 1 to December 31, 2023, analyzed 99,492 samples from public and private healthcare centres.

It highlights a concerning rise in antibiotic resistance and decreasing susceptibility of common bacteria. The study examined culture-positive isolates from blood, urine, respiratory infections, deep infections, and other specimens, with contributions from 21 regional centres nationwide.

The report tested antibiotics on bacteria like E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus, found in samples from blood, urine, the respiratory tract, and other infections.

“Continuous surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibilities is crucial for tailoring empiric antibiotic therapy, optimizing patient outcomes, and controlling the spread of resistance,” the report said.

It calls for immediate action to combat the rising threat of antibiotic resistance and stresses the need for tighter regulations on antibiotic use.

The report also pointed out the misuse of important antibiotics in agriculture, which accelerates resistance. It stressed that stronger steps are needed to safeguard the effectiveness of essential antibiotics for human and animal health.

ICMR report highlights key diseases facing antibiotic resistance in India

  • One of the key findings was the growing resistance of E. coli, particularly in both ICU and outpatient settings. E. coli was the most persistent bacteria across OPD, ICU, and ward settings, showing poor responsiveness to antibiotics like cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin, with susceptibility rates falling below 20%.
  • Similarly, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa also showed increasing resistance, especially to critical antibiotics like piperacillin-tazobactam, imipenem, and meropenem.
  • The report highlighted a gradual decline in antibiotic effectiveness over time. For example, the effectiveness of piperacillin-tazobactam dropped from 56.8% in 2017 to just 42.4% in 2023.
  • Even widely used antibiotics like amikacin and meropenem are becoming less effective at treating infections.
  • Gram-negative bacteria, which can cause infections throughout the body, are the most frequently found pathogens in key samples, such as blood, urine, and lung specimens.
  • ICMR researchers discovered that bacteria responsible for gastroenteritis, like Salmonella typhi, have developed over 95% resistance to fluoroquinolones, a class of antibiotics often used to treat severe infections.

Related Posts

  • Pharma
  • October 12, 2024
  • 27 views
Food Safety Team’s Action: Protein Powder Worth Rs 37 Was Being Sold At Rs 400

Sawai Madhopur: Medical shopkeepers are selling a tin of protein powder worth Rs 37 for Rs 400 and syrup worth Rs 30 for Rs 156 and common people, unaware of the…

  • Pharma
  • October 11, 2024
  • 100 views
Man Held With Oxytocin Injections Of Rs 1.59 Lakh In Thane

Thane:  Police have arrested a 50-year-old man from Maharashtra ’s Thane district on charges of illegally manufacturing oxytocin injections, an official said on Thursday. Following a tip, the police raided…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You Missed

Food Safety Team’s Action: Protein Powder Worth Rs 37 Was Being Sold At Rs 400

Food Safety Team’s Action: Protein Powder Worth Rs 37 Was Being Sold At Rs 400

Man Held With Oxytocin Injections Of Rs 1.59 Lakh In Thane

Man Held With Oxytocin Injections Of Rs 1.59 Lakh In Thane

Samples Of Montair FX, Vhymoral Forte, Aciloc RD Taken On Complaint Found Fake

Samples Of Montair FX, Vhymoral Forte, Aciloc RD Taken On Complaint Found Fake

Banned Drugs Available Despite Govt Regulations, Threatening Public Health

Banned Drugs Available Despite Govt Regulations, Threatening Public Health

49 Cartons Of Cough Syrup Seized From Parcel Vehicle

49 Cartons Of Cough Syrup Seized From Parcel Vehicle

Electro-Homeopathy Practioner Held For Running Clinic Sans Valid Documents

Electro-Homeopathy Practioner Held For Running Clinic Sans Valid Documents