Another alarming study has highlighted the growing risk of drug resistance, this time in pathogens responsible for eye infections.A team of Indian researchers has detected multidrug-resistant bacteria in more than 45 per cent of isolates from patients with eye infections.The study, jointly led by CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), also reported widespread resistance to fluoroquinolones — one of the main classes of antibiotics — across all pathogens examined.Further, the team found samples with vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae strains involved in eye infections."These findings are worrying because they can spread their AMR genes to other bacteria, too. Also, these pathogens can infect other parts of our bodies," said Karthik Bharadwaj from CCMB. The study, published in 'Communications Biology', raise concerns over current treatment approaches in ophthalmic care. How Was The Study Conducted?Researchers described the work as one of the most comprehensive genomic analyses of eye pathogens from India to date. CCMB handled genomic and bioinformatics analysis, LVPEI contributed clinical expertise, patient samples, and microbiological characterization, PTI reported. Whole-genome sequencing helped identify new resistance mechanisms and mutations, offering deeper insight into how these pathogens evolve and spread. Researchers said the high prevalence of resistance makes such an approach increasingly unreliable. Also read: Gender-based Violence Surging Global Antimicrobial Resistance, Say ExpertsThe study underscores the need for microbiology-guided diagnosis and treatment, particularly in severe infections such as microbial keratitis and endophthalmitis. "While genomic tools are not yet part of routine clinical workflows, the insights generated through this study provide a critical foundation for developing region-specific treatment guidelines and strengthening antimicrobial stewardship efforts in ophthalmology," said Dr Joveeta Joseph, head of microbiology at LVPEI. Researchers also stressed that eye infections should not be viewed in isolation. The microbes involved often originate from the skin or environment, linking ophthalmic infections to the broader AMR burden. "This study positions the eye as a valuable site for AMR surveillance in the environment around us," said Dr Prashant Garg, executive chair, LVPEI. Increasing Drug Resistance In IndiaA recent Lancet Study reported that drug resistance is driving severe typhoid disease, hospitalization, and death among children under-5s in India. Another 2024 Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-led study also revealed a significant increase in antibiotic resistance and a decrease in the effectiveness of key antibiotics. This indicates a growing public health threat that requires immediate attention. It showed E. coli, a common bacterium found in both ICU and outpatient settings, demonstrated a concerning rise in resistance to antibiotics like cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin. Also read: Study Links Widespread Use of Antibiotics During COVID To Surge In AMR CasesRising Global Antimicrobial ResistanceAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when germs develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them.It is one of the 10 top global health threats, undermining the effectiveness of essential treatments and placing millions at risk of untreatable infections.As per WHO data, AMR is an urgent global public health threat, killing at least 1.27 million people worldwide and associated with nearly 5 million deaths in 2019.The WHO, in a 2025 report, noted that one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections causing common infections in people worldwide in 2023 were resistant to antibiotic treatments.