Lancet Study Reveals 83% of Indian Patients Carry Dangerous Superbugs

India is facing a critical health emergency as antibiotic resistance reaches alarming levels across the country. A new international study published in The Lancet eClinical Medicine has revealed that 83 per cent of Indian patients are now carriers of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), making the country the global epicentre of a superbug explosion. The research, co-led by scientists from AIG Hospitals, underscores the urgent need for national policy reforms to curb the misuse of antibiotics and strengthen infection control mechanisms.

The large-scale study, conducted across four nations, examined over 1,200 patients undergoing a common endoscopic procedure known as ERCP. The findings were stark: while India reported an 83 per cent MDRO carriage rate, Italy stood at 31.5 per cent, the United States at 20.1 per cent, and the Netherlands at just 10.8 per cent. Among the resistant bacteria detected in Indian participants, 70.2 per cent produced enzymes that neutralize common antibiotics, while 23.5 per cent showed resistance even to last-line drugs such as carbapenems, leaving doctors with few effective treatment options.

Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman of AIG Hospitals and co-author of the study, described the discovery as “a community-level crisis.” He explained that the high resistance rates are no longer confined to hospitals but are spreading through communities due to rampant antibiotic misuse, self-medication, and over-the-counter sales of powerful drugs without prescriptions. The presence of these superbugs not only complicates treatment but also prolongs hospital stays, increases medical costs, and heightens the risk of death from once-treatable infections.

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For instance, non-resistant infections can often be treated within a few days at modest costs, but infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria require prolonged hospital care and expensive second-line antibiotics. In many cases, costs multiply sixfold as patients develop sepsis or other complications requiring intensive care. Each year, around 58,000 newborns in India die from drug-resistant infections—a stark indicator of a growing public health catastrophe.

The researchers are calling for an immediate nationwide campaign on responsible antibiotic use, including strict prescription-only policies, improved pharmacy regulation, and extensive public awareness efforts. Dr. Reddy also stressed the importance of community participation through better hygiene practices, vaccination, and avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use. Without immediate, coordinated action, experts warn that India could soon enter a post-antibiotic era, where routine infections or surgeries become potentially fatal.

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