At the 15th Annual Conference of Clinical Infectious Diseases Society – CIDSCON 2025, experts emphasized a multi-faceted approach to tackle Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

Dr George Varghese, Infectious Diseases Specialist, CMC, Vellore, said, “We clearly have a long way to go in terms of infection control. Most of the antibiotics prescribed are unnecessary, and that too for a long duration. This antibiotic pressure makes them resistant. Judicious use of antibiotics makes a lot of difference.”

Dr Rajeev Soman – Scientific Chairperson, CIDS and Infectious Diseases Specialist, Jupiter Hospitals, Mumbai/ Pune said, “AMR should be discussed in large and small hospitals through stewardship programs. Even infection control practices such as handwashing have to be followed diligently. General public should not insist on antibiotics with doctors and pharmacists. Resistance is at a high level in India and by the time the patient is admitted to a multi-specialty hospital for an infection, they are already resistant. This makes treatment difficult. We were obsessed with Covid-19 vaccination, but now unfortunately we have forgotten about it.”

Dr Vasant Nagwekar, Secretary, CIDS, said, “Around 60%-70% of resistance to third-generation sepsis occurs in India. AMR is seen in lower- and middle-income countries, and for India, the major concern is antimicrobial resistance (AMR). For combating AMR, we need an antibiotic stewardship program. Another important thing is tuberculosis (TB), which remains a problem. Even tropical infections like dengue, malaria, and leptospirosis are becoming difficult to treat every year, which needs attention. Every infection has different antibiotics and different treatments. Where antibiotics are needed, they should be rationalized as per the protocol and guidelines. The right antibiotic for the correct organism to lower the resistance should be prioritized.”

Emphasizing that the medical system has to be upgraded to tackle AMR, Dr Subramanian, Infectious Disease Specialist from Chennai, said, “This is a complicated problem of AMR that cannot be fixed with one intervention and needs a multi-faceted approach. The most effective answer to reducing infection-related deaths is not just antibiotics or vaccines; it is sanitation. Also, the medical system in India has to be upgraded. The government is now looking into more integration of infection control in the medical curriculum. It is important for the next generation to learn this for the safety of patients and also for their own safety. In the West, whether it is a psychiatrist or a neurosurgeon, everybody has to learn the basics of infection control and antibiotic resistance. You cannot run a program without being safe in the hospital.”

Dr V Balaji, CMC, Vellore said, “Safety of the patient is important in the hospital. If a patient gets admitted with diabetes and instead develops sepsis due to a hospital-acquired infection, it becomes a double burden. A hospital can act like an incubator, for patients admitted, thus leading to higher chances for infection to spread. This is how hospital acquired infections spread.” 

Emphasizing on the right approach, Dr Kamini Walia, Senior Scientist, ICMR, said, “Since antibiotics are cheaper than diagnostics, doctors often prescribe them without following proper diagnostic rules. This calls for more education, awareness, and sensitization, both among the public and physicians on responsible antibiotic use. Our hospital-acquired infection program mainly focuses on tertiary care hospitals with ICUs, where very sick patients are treated with life-saving higher-generation antimicrobials. Many patients survive major surgeries but are later lost to infections, which shows the urgent need for action. Recently, India provided one of the first estimates on the burden of these infections, helping shape hospital policies. Sensitization, resource allocation, infection controllers, and strict protocols are key steps to reduce the rising burden of HAIs in our country.”

AMR has now emerged as a serious public health problem, with the forecast of 10 million deaths per year globally by 2050. AMR occurs when viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites do not respond to antimicrobial treatments, thus allowing the survival of the microorganisms and pathogens. The major prominent cause contributing to the current crisis remains to be the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, particularly the inappropriate usage of antibiotics.