Growing Danger in India and the World

Antibiotic resistance, once just a scientific term, is now a serious reality, taking more and more lives globally. In India, this problem is especially severe. Antibiotics, once known as miracle drugs, are quickly losing their effectiveness, creating a big challenge for healthcare systems everywhere. The World Health Organization and leading medical journals like Nature and The Lancet warn that the future could be grim. Even the common infections could be untreatable, and the minor surgeries may become life-threatening. Globally, around 5 million deaths each year are linked to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with 1.27 million being directly caused by infections caused by resistant pathogens.

If AMR continues to spread without control, it could be cause of death for around 10 million people annually by 2050, overtaking cancer as the leading cause of death. The economic loss is also concerning, which is reaching to $100 trillion globally by mid-century. The MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and CRE (Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae) are major concerns in developed countries but, in the developing countries like India, the situation is worse because regulations are weaker, healthcare is less developed, and antibiotics are often misused in both humans and animals.

The Urgency of AMR in India

India is facing huge AMR crisis, because the overuse of antibiotics in both medicine and farming has caused the rise of many drug-resistant bacteria. For example, third-generation cephalosporins, which are essential for treating serious infections, no longer work against 70% of bacteria in India, including E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. In farming, antibiotics are often given to animals to make them grow faster or to prevent disease. This misuse aids the spread of resistant bacteria through food and the environment. In India, antibiotics can be easily bought without a prescription, which makes the problem harder to control.

As a result, treating drug-resistant infections is more expensive, and many families fall into poverty. Hospital stays are longer, more expensive antibiotics are needed, making healthcare less affordable. The World Bank has warned that AMR could slow India’s economic growth by 2-3% by 2050, pushing millions into extreme poverty. Infections from bacteria like resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae are particularly dangerous in hospitals, especially for newborns in intensive care. Drug-resistant tuberculosis is another major health challenge in India, and it’s very difficult to treat.

SKUAST-Kashmir’s Role in the Fight Against AMR

Despite the challenges, the institutes like the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) in Kashmir are playing big role in this with innovative solutions. SKUAST’s newly established Centre of Excellence on AMR at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Shuhama, is the first of its kind in the region. This Centre has been funded with ₹25 crores from the government of Indian, it focuses on research, education, and policy development to tackle the AMR. It is aiming to address the issue from a One Health perspective, which connects human, animal, and environmental health.

One of the important strategies in the fight against AMR is to prevent infections so that less antibiotics are needed. SKUAST-Kashmir has made important progress in developing vaccines for both humans and animals, helping reduce antibiotic use. One major achievement is a new recombinant lactobacillus-based vaccine that targets Salmonella in poultry. By preventing the infections, the need for antibiotics in agriculture is reduced. SKUAST is also working on other vaccines for animals and poultry. These vaccines protect animal health and reduce the risk of zoonotic infections from animals to humans.

AMR in Jammu & Kashmir

In Jammu and Kashmir, resistant infections are becoming more common, especially in rural areas where people often receive poor treatment, making it harder to control the spread of resistant bacteria. SKUAST-Kashmir’s Centre of Excellence will be key in solving this problem by offering services like testing animal and plant foods for AMR and monitoring the environment for resistant bacteria. To address AMR in Jammu and Kashmir, a multidimensional approach is needed. Public health awareness campaigns will teach both healthcare workers and the general public about the dangers of antibiotic misuse. Stronger regulations for the sale and prescription of antibiotics are also necessary. Better diagnostic facilities in both cities and rural areas will ensure that antibiotics are only used when truly needed.

A Call for Immediate Action

Fighting AMR requires urgent action both in India and globally. Although the threat is serious, it often doesn’t get enough attention. If we don’t act quickly, we risk losing decades of medical progress, which could lead to increased poverty and unstable economies. India, at the centre of the antibiotic resistance crisis, has a unique chance to lead the global fight against this growing threat. Initiatives like SKUAST-Kashmir’s Centre of Excellence and their vaccine programs offer a path forward. As the danger of antibiotic resistance increases, so must our commitment to tackle it. The work being done at SKUAST-Kashmir gives us hope that, with collaboration, innovation, and determined efforts, we can safeguard future generations from the devastating impact of antibiotic resistance.

Dr. Syed Mudasir Andrabi, Prof & Head, Animal Biotechnology, FVSc & AH, SKUAST-K