Nisha Pandey

India’s Superbug Crisis: ICMR Study Finds Drug-Resistant Infections Have Become Harder & Costlier To Treat

A new <span>Indian Council of Medical Research</span> (<span>ICMR</span>) study based on 20 tertiary-care hospitals has found that patients with drug-resistant bacterial infections face higher mortality, longer hospital stays and substantially higher costs of treatment than those infected with drug-sensitive strains. The study analysed nearly 1.6 lakh hospitalised patients between April 2022 and April 2025. 

The findings, published in <em>The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia</em>, focused on four major Gram-negative bacteria: E. coli, <span>Klebsiella</span> pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Of 26,213 patients with confirmed infections caused by these bacteria, 61.1% had carbapenem-resistant infections. 

<h2>ICMR Says India Is Facing A 'Superbug' Crisis </h2>

<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/dengiall-indias-first-indigenous-dengue-vaccine-nears-completion-set-to-hit-markets-by-next-year-article-151435802" data-type="tilCustomLink">Carbapenems</a> are powerful antibiotics that have traditionally been used as a last resort. When bacteria become resistant to this drug, doctors are left with fewer treatment options. 

The new study found that mortality was consistently higher among patients with carbapenem-resistant infections. For Klebsiella pneumoniae, mortality was 31.2% among patients with resistant infections versus 23.5% among those with susceptible infections.

For E. coli, the figures were 24.4% versus 17.3%. For Acinetobacter baumannii, mortality was 37.9% versus 32.8%, while for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, it was 28.9% versus 20.2%. 

The risk was particularly severe with infections that were resistant to <span>carbapenem</span>, where mortality reached 46.4% to 50.8%.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/h1n1-in-delhi-166-fresh-cases-in-24-hours-tally-rises-to-2612-article-155999548" data-type="tilCustomLink">H1N1 In Delhi: 166 Fresh Cases In 24 Hours, Tally Rises To 2,612</a>

<h2>Drug Resistance Also Comes With A Bigger Treatment Cost </h2>

The study also found that antibiotic treatment costs were 1.1 to 2 times higher for <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/shigellosis-cases-in-kerala-raise-amr-concern-all-about-complications-due-to-drug-resistant-shigella-article-155978294" data-type="tilCustomLink">drug-resistant infections</a>. Treatment of resistant <em>E. coli</em>, for example, averaged $420 per patient, compared with $211 for susceptible infections.

The corresponding costs were $587 versus $505 for K. pneumoniae, $655 versus $436 for A. baumannii, and $702 versus $510 for P. aeruginosa. 

Patients also spent longer in hospital. Those with resistant <em>E. coli</em> infections stayed an average of 23.1 days, compared with 17.8 days for susceptible infections.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/exclusive-with-leading-pulmonologist-when-should-you-worry-about-h1n1-symptoms-article-155984144" data-type="tilCustomLink">Exclusive With Leading Pulmonologist: When Should You Worry About H1N1 Symptoms?</a> 

<h2>“AMR Is No Longer A Distant Threat”: ICMR </h2>

Dr Kamini Walia, senior scientist at <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/sale-of-antibiotics-falls-by-1000-crore-in-kerala-states-crackdown-targets-rising-antimicrobial-resistance-what-you-should-know-article-151030118" data-type="tilCustomLink">ICMR</a> and an author of the study, said, “Antimicrobial resistance is no longer a distant threat—it is already costing Indian lives.”

She added. “Our study shows that carbapenem-resistant infections carry substantially higher mortality and treatment costs.”

But Walia stressed that simply developing or prescribing stronger antibiotics is not enough. The answer, she said, is “better infection prevention, timely diagnostics and responsible antibiotic use.” 

That is important because every time antibiotics are used, susceptible bacteria can be eliminated while resistant ones survive and multiply. Misuse or incomplete or inappropriate treatment can accelerate that process.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/india-records-3395-active-covid-19-cases-26-deaths-kerala-and-maharashtra-among-worst-hit-states-article-151765683" data-type="tilCustomLink">India Records 3,395 Active COVID-19 Cases, 26 Deaths, Kerala And Maharashtra Among Worst-Hit States</a>

H1N1 Cases Surge Nearly 6-Fold in Delhi: Symptoms, Causes, Vaccine & How to Stay Safe

According to <em>The </em><em>Times of India</em>, Dr Rahul Pandit, a critical care specialist at H N Reliance Hospital said that Mumbai hospitals are also seeing more patients with <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/vaccines-could-cut-anti-biotics-use-by-2-5-million-says-who-article-151046331" data-type="tilCustomLink">carbapenem-resistant infections</a>.

“It takes longer to treat a patient with a drug-resistant infection. Developing a culture, identifying the organism and determining its resistance pattern can take a few days, although molecular diagnostics can help us do this faster,” he said. 

When the usual antibiotic no longer works, doctors may need to use combinations of drugs or newer, more expensive medicines.

<h2>ICMR Has Been Monitoring <span rel="noindex">AMR</span> For Nearly 13 Years </h2>

ICMR has been tracking <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/oyster-blood-may-hold-the-key-to-antimicrobial-resistance-research-indicates-article-151157058" data-type="tilCustomLink">antimicrobial resistance</a> through its <span>Antimicrobial Resistance</span> Surveillance and Research Network (AMRSN) since 2013. The agency says AMR can lead to prolonged illness, higher healthcare costs and increased mortality, while inappropriate antibiotic use remains one of the major challenges. 

ICMR's current priorities include strengthening surveillance, improving infection prevention, expanding rapid diagnostics and developing alternative treatments such as bacteriophages and monoclonal antibodies. 

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Drug Resistant Infections

carbapenem resistant infections

Nearly 1 In 2 Patients Die, Treatment Costs Rise By 46%: ICMR Study Reveals Impact Of Drug-Resistant Infections

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A new Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study based on 20 tertiary-care hospitals has found that patients with drug-resistant bacterial infections face higher mortality, longer hospital stays and substantially higher costs of treatment than those infected with drug-sensitive strains. The study analysed nearly 1.6 lakh hospitalised patients between April 2022 and April 2025. The findings, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, focused on four major Gram-negative bacteria: E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Of 26,213 patients with confirmed infections caused by these bacteria, 61.1% had carbapenem-resistant infections. ICMR Says India Is Facing A 'Superbug' Crisis Carbapenems are powerful antibiotics that have traditionally been used as a last resort. When bacteria become resistant to this drug, doctors are left with fewer treatment options. The new study found that mortality was consistently higher among patients with carbapenem-resistant infections. For Klebsiella pneumoniae, mortality was 31.2% among patients with resistant infections versus 23.5% among those with susceptible infections.For E. coli, the figures were 24.4% versus 17.3%. For Acinetobacter baumannii, mortality was 37.9% versus 32.8%, while for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, it was 28.9% versus 20.2%. The risk was particularly severe with infections that were resistant to carbapenem, where mortality reached 46.4% to 50.8%.Also read: H1N1 In Delhi: 166 Fresh Cases In 24 Hours, Tally Rises To 2,612Drug Resistance Also Comes With A Bigger Treatment Cost The study also found that antibiotic treatment costs were 1.1 to 2 times higher for drug-resistant infections. Treatment of resistant E. coli, for example, averaged $420 per patient, compared with $211 for susceptible infections.The corresponding costs were $587 versus $505 for K. pneumoniae, $655 versus $436 for A. baumannii, and $702 versus $510 for P. aeruginosa. Patients also spent longer in hospital. Those with resistant E. coli infections stayed an average of 23.1 days, compared with 17.8 days for susceptible infections.Also read: Exclusive With Leading Pulmonologist: When Should You Worry About H1N1 Symptoms? “AMR Is No Longer A Distant Threat”: ICMR Dr Kamini Walia, senior scientist at ICMR and an author of the study, said, “Antimicrobial resistance is no longer a distant threat—it is already costing Indian lives.”She added. “Our study shows that carbapenem-resistant infections carry substantially higher mortality and treatment costs.”But Walia stressed that simply developing or prescribing stronger antibiotics is not enough. The answer, she said, is “better infection prevention, timely diagnostics and responsible antibiotic use.” That is important because every time antibiotics are used, susceptible bacteria can be eliminated while resistant ones survive and multiply. Misuse or incomplete or inappropriate treatment can accelerate that process.Also read: India Records 3,395 Active COVID-19 Cases, 26 Deaths, Kerala And Maharashtra Among Worst-Hit StatesAvoid Delay In Treatment             According to The Times of India, Dr Rahul Pandit, a critical care specialist at H N Reliance Hospital said that Mumbai hospitals are also seeing more patients with carbapenem-resistant infections.“It takes longer to treat a patient with a drug-resistant infection. Developing a culture, identifying the organism and determining its resistance pattern can take a few days, although molecular diagnostics can help us do this faster,” he said. When the usual antibiotic no longer works, doctors may need to use combinations of drugs or newer, more expensive medicines.ICMR Has Been Monitoring AMR For Nearly 13 Years ICMR has been tracking antimicrobial resistance through its Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance and Research Network (AMRSN) since 2013. The agency says AMR can lead to prolonged illness, higher healthcare costs and increased mortality, while inappropriate antibiotic use remains one of the major challenges. ICMR's current priorities include strengthening surveillance, improving infection prevention, expanding rapid diagnostics and developing alternative treatments such as bacteriophages and monoclonal antibodies. 

india’s superbug crisis: icmr study finds drug-resistant infections have become harder & costlier to treat

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India’s Superbug Crisis: ICMR Study Finds Drug-Resistant Infections Have Become Harder & Costlier To Treat

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Nearly 1 In 2 Patients Die, Treatment Costs Rise By 46%: ICMR Study Reveals Impact Of Drug-Resistant Infections

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