Tackling antibiotic resistance in India

Abstract

Infectious diseases are major causes of mortality in India. This is aggravated by the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) both in the community and in hospitals. Due to the emergence of resistance to all effective antibiotics in nosocomial pathogens, the situation calls for emergency measures to tackle AMR in India. India has huge challenges in tackling AMR, ranging from lack of surveillance mechanisms for monitoring AMR and use; effective hospital control policies; sanitation and non-human use of antimicrobial. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Govt. of India has taken initiatives to tackle AMR. Extensive guidelines have been drafted and a model worksheet has been developed as a roadmap to tackle AMR.

Keywords::

• antimicrobial resistance
• antimicrobial use
• Chennai declaration
• infection control
• tackling antimicrobial resistance

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• India is among top five emerging growth engine of the world, but is still not adequately equipped to handle the growing healthcare demands of the its burgeoning population.

• The first step is to break the vicious cycle of high burden of disease and consequent need of antibiotic (ABs) by improving the sanitation standards.

• The high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is often linked to inappropriate use of ABs, combined with other factors like inadequate medical infrastructure. Currently, there is little or no choice for effective treatment of infections caused by emerging extremely drug-resistant and Pan-drug-resistant organisms.

• Emergence of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamases-producing bacteria in India and associated national and international media attention catapulted Indian policymakers into action and has led to series of actionable goals and plans to tackle AMR.

• The recent recommendations like improving sanitation, setting up of AMR surveillance systems, augmenting hospital infection control policies, upgradation of diagnostic facilities and educational drives will hopefully see significant reduction in infectious disease burden and AMR in India.

Notes

AB: Antibiotic; AMR: Antimicrobial resistance.