Health and Me

Itisha Arya

What Are Superbugs? The Drug-Resistant Microbes Driving India’s Antibiotic Resistance Crisis

superbug drug resistant

A new global study in The <span>Lancet</span>’s eClinicalMedicine has drawn serious concern about the sharp rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in India, placing the country at the centre of what many specialists now consider a fast-moving <span>superbug</span> crisis. The research, titled Preprocedural screening for multidrug-resistant organisms in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: an international, multicentre, cross-sectional observational study, shows that Indian patients had the highest worldwide rates of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) among those undergoing a common endoscopic procedure. 

These numbers far exceed the levels documented in Italy, the United States and the Netherlands.

<h2>What Are <span rel="noindex">Superbugs</span>?</h2>

A superbug is a strain of bacteria that no longer responds to one or more groups of antibiotics that previously worked well. This can happen through enzyme production such as carbapenemases, changes in drug targets, increased pumping out of drugs or shifts in the cell wall that block antibiotics from entering, as per National Institute of Health. When bacteria gain resistance to several antibiotic classes, the list of possible treatments becomes very small. Such resistance makes infections tougher to manage because routine medicines no longer work, leading to more severe illness.

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The recent Lancet paper used screening of patients scheduled for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a frequently performed procedure, to highlight how widespread MDROs already are among Indian patients even before major interventions.

<h2>Superbugs: What Did The Lancet Study Find?</h2>

The study assessed more than 1,200 patients across India, Italy, the Netherlands and the United States. Among them, 83.1 per cent of Indian patients carried at least one superbug, a figure far higher than those in the other countries.

<ul><li>Italy: 31.5 per cent</li><li>United States: 20.1 per cent</li><li>Netherlands: 10.8 per cent</li></ul>

<h2>Which Superbugs Are The Biggest Culprits In India?</h2>

A few resistant pathogens account for most of the problem in the country, as per The Lancet Study:

Also Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/the-kessler-twins-chose-assisted-suicide-in-germany-how-it-differs-from-euthanasia-article-153174189" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">The Kessler Twins Die By Assisted Suicide in Germany; How It Differs From Euthanasia</a>

Enterobacterales, especially Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli: These cause a large share of urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections and hospital-related illnesses. The study noted that nearly 70.2 per cent of Indian patients carried ESBL-producing strains.

Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negatives (CRGNs): India’s carbapenem-resistance rate for key pathogens was around 23.5 per cent, signalling that even some last-resort drugs fail against these infections.

Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa: These are common in intensive care units, often highly resistant and linked with ventilator-associated pneumonia. Surveillance in India shows very high resistance levels in both.

Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus): This remains an established cause of surgical site and hospital-acquired infections.

Together, these organisms form part of the “ESKAPE” group (Enterococcus, Staph. aureus, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas and Enterobacter), which represents the central challenge in antibiotic resistance. India’s unusually high carriage and infection rates of these pathogens increase the threat both in hospitals and in the community, as highlighted in The Lancet study.

Resistance may be inevitable, yet it can still be controlled. The new findings make it clear that India cannot afford further delays. Antibiotic resistance is no longer a niche concern. With such high carriage levels, every hospital visit becomes a potential source of spread and every procedure carries added risk. Officials often speak about “containing resistance,” but the timeframe to act is shrinking. Without stronger antibiotic stewardship, timely diagnostics and firm infection-control practices, the country may lose access to many dependable first-line antibiotics for everyday infections, undoing years of medical progress.

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A new global study in The Lancet’s eClinicalMedicine has drawn serious concern about the sharp rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in India, placing the country at the centre of what many specialists now consider a fast-moving superbug crisis. The research, titled Preprocedural screening for multidrug-resistant organisms in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: an international, multicentre, cross-sectional observational study, shows that Indian patients had the highest worldwide rates of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) among those undergoing a common endoscopic procedure. These numbers far exceed the levels documented in Italy, the United States and the Netherlands.What Are Superbugs?A superbug is a strain of bacteria that no longer responds to one or more groups of antibiotics that previously worked well. This can happen through enzyme production such as carbapenemases, changes in drug targets, increased pumping out of drugs or shifts in the cell wall that block antibiotics from entering, as per National Institute of Health. When bacteria gain resistance to several antibiotic classes, the list of possible treatments becomes very small. Such resistance makes infections tougher to manage because routine medicines no longer work, leading to more severe illness.Also Read: Ultra-Processed Food Is Harming Your Heart, Liver And Brain, Warns New Lancet StudyThe recent Lancet paper used screening of patients scheduled for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a frequently performed procedure, to highlight how widespread MDROs already are among Indian patients even before major interventions.Superbugs: What Did The Lancet Study Find?The study assessed more than 1,200 patients across India, Italy, the Netherlands and the United States. Among them, 83.1 per cent of Indian patients carried at least one superbug, a figure far higher than those in the other countries.Italy: 31.5 per centUnited States: 20.1 per centNetherlands: 10.8 per centWhich Superbugs Are The Biggest Culprits In India?A few resistant pathogens account for most of the problem in the country, as per The Lancet Study:Also Read: The Kessler Twins Die By Assisted Suicide in Germany; How It Differs From EuthanasiaEnterobacterales, especially Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli: These cause a large share of urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections and hospital-related illnesses. The study noted that nearly 70.2 per cent of Indian patients carried ESBL-producing strains.Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negatives (CRGNs): India’s carbapenem-resistance rate for key pathogens was around 23.5 per cent, signalling that even some last-resort drugs fail against these infections.Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa: These are common in intensive care units, often highly resistant and linked with ventilator-associated pneumonia. Surveillance in India shows very high resistance levels in both.Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus): This remains an established cause of surgical site and hospital-acquired infections.Together, these organisms form part of the “ESKAPE” group (Enterococcus, Staph. aureus, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas and Enterobacter), which represents the central challenge in antibiotic resistance. India’s unusually high carriage and infection rates of these pathogens increase the threat both in hospitals and in the community, as highlighted in The Lancet study.Resistance may be inevitable, yet it can still be controlled. The new findings make it clear that India cannot afford further delays. Antibiotic resistance is no longer a niche concern. With such high carriage levels, every hospital visit becomes a potential source of spread and every procedure carries added risk. Officials often speak about “containing resistance,” but the timeframe to act is shrinking. Without stronger antibiotic stewardship, timely diagnostics and firm infection-control practices, the country may lose access to many dependable first-line antibiotics for everyday infections, undoing years of medical progress.