A new study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has highlighted the growing burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in India. The study, conducted across 20 tertiary-care hospitals, found that patients with drug-resistant bacterial infections face higher mortality, longer hospital stays and significantly higher treatment costs than those infected with drug-sensitive strains.
Researchers analysed the medical records of nearly 1.6 lakh hospitalised patients between April 2022 and April 2025. The findings, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, examined infections caused by four major Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Among 26,213 patients with confirmed infections caused by these bacteria, 61.1% had infections resistant to carbapenem antibiotics.
Carbapenem Resistance Linked to Higher Mortality
The study found that carbapenem-resistant infections consistently resulted in higher mortality than susceptible infections. For Klebsiella pneumoniae, mortality reached 31.2% among patients with resistant infections, compared with 23.5% among those with susceptible infections. Similarly, mortality for E. coli stood at 24.4% versus 17.3%. The difference was also evident in other bacterial infections. Mortality among patients with Acinetobacter baumannii infections was 37.9% for resistant strains compared with 32.8% for susceptible strains. For Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the corresponding figures were 28.9% and 20.2%. Moreover, the most severe outcomes occurred in infections resistant to carbapenems, with mortality rates ranging from 46.4% to 50.8%.
Drug Resistance Increases Healthcare Costs
Antimicrobial resistance also places a significant financial burden on patients and healthcare systems. According to the study, treatment costs for drug-resistant infections were 1.1 to two times higher than those for susceptible infections. For example, treatment for drug-resistant E. coli averaged $420 per patient, compared with $211 for susceptible infections. Similarly, the costs for K. pneumoniae were $587 versus $505, while A. baumannii treatment cost $655 compared with $436. For P. aeruginosa, the average treatment cost reached $702 for resistant infections, compared with $510 for susceptible infections.
Resistant Infections Lead to Longer Hospital Stays
Patients with drug-resistant infections also spent more time in hospital. Those with resistant E. coli infections stayed an average of 23.1 days, compared with 17.8 days for patients with susceptible infections. Dr Kamini Walia, Senior Scientist at ICMR and an author of the study, said that antimicrobial resistance is already having a significant impact on patients and healthcare in India. She noted that carbapenem-resistant infections carry substantially higher mortality and treatment costs.
Stronger Antibiotics Alone Cannot Solve AMR
However, researchers stressed that simply developing or prescribing stronger antibiotics will not be enough to address the antimicrobial resistance crisis. Instead, effective AMR management requires a combination of better infection prevention, timely diagnosis and responsible antibiotic use. Appropriate antibiotic treatment is particularly important because unnecessary or inappropriate use can eliminate susceptible bacteria while allowing resistant bacteria to survive and multiply. Furthermore, incomplete or inappropriate antibiotic treatment can accelerate the development and spread of resistance.
ICMR Strengthens Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance
ICMR has monitored antimicrobial resistance through its Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance and Research Network (AMRSN) since 2013. The agency has highlighted AMR as a major healthcare challenge because it can lead to prolonged illness, higher healthcare costs and increased mortality. In response, ICMR is focusing on strengthening AMR surveillance, infection prevention and rapid diagnostic capabilities. The organisation is also exploring alternative approaches to treatment, including emerging options such as bacteriophages and monoclonal antibodies.
Tackling India’s Growing Superbug Threat
The findings underline the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy to combat drug-resistant infections in India. By combining stronger infection-control measures, faster diagnostics, effective surveillance and responsible antibiotic use, healthcare providers can improve treatment outcomes and help slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance. As reported by healthandme.com, the study demonstrates that AMR is not simply a future threat. It is already increasing mortality, hospital stays and healthcare costs, making timely action essential for protecting patients and strengthening India’s healthcare system.