ICU Infections Grow Harder to Treat as AMR Shrinks Antibiotic Arsenal, Experts Warn

Chennai: Intensivists have raised recent considerations over the rising burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Intensive Care Models (ICUs), warning that shrinking antibiotic effectiveness is complicating the administration of life-threatening infections and narrowing remedy choices throughout India.

At Criticare 2026, organised by the Indian Society of Vital Care Drugs (ISCCM), specialists referred to as for pressing strengthening of antimicrobial stewardship, improved infection-control practices, and nationwide consciousness to curb irrational antibiotic use.

Talking at a press briefing, Dr Srinivas Samavedam, President, ISCCM, highlighted the rising function of data-driven care. He famous that advances in information science and synthetic intelligence may assist clinicians tailor therapies extra exactly, enhancing outcomes whereas lowering pointless antimicrobial publicity.

Experts burdened that indiscriminate antibiotic use stays a key driver of resistance. Dr Sachin Gupta, Normal Secretary, ISCCM, mentioned clinicians should rigorously decide whether or not fever in ICU sufferers is really infection-related earlier than initiating antibiotics.

“Assuming each fever requires antibiotics leads to overuse and fuels resistance. We should determine the underlying trigger, verify an infection, and prescribe focused remedy for an outlined length,” he mentioned.

Including to the priority, Prof Pradip Kumar Bhattacharya, Rapid Previous President, ISCCM, identified that many sufferers referred from smaller hospitals already arrive with resistant infections, usually after receiving high-end broad-spectrum antibiotics prematurely.

“The infection-control requirements adopted in tertiary centres should percolate to smaller hospitals. With out uniform implementation of prevention protocols, the burden will proceed to develop,” he mentioned, warning that the pipeline of efficient antibiotics is proscribed.

Leaders additionally underlined systemic gaps contributing to AMR, together with over-the-counter entry to antibiotics, insufficient diagnostic testing such as tradition and sensitivity, and lack of expertise amongst each healthcare suppliers and the general public.

ISCCM representatives emphasised a three-pronged response involving stronger diagnostics, clinician schooling, and public consciousness to gradual resistance traits. Additionally they referred to as for policy-level assist to institutionalise antimicrobial stewardship programmes throughout healthcare settings, significantly in secondary and smaller hospitals the place early misuse usually begins.

With ICU infections turning into more durable to deal with and drug choices dwindling, essential care specialists cautioned that AMR is not a future menace however an instantaneous scientific actuality demanding coordinated nationwide motion.

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