ISSN: 0973-7510

E-ISSN: 2581-690X

Review Article | Open Access
Susi Athiyattil1, Rajdeep Kaur1, Shweta Choudhary1, Shanoo Sharma1, Neha2, Safican Bano2, Jaswinder Kaur3 and Vinay Kumar1
1Department of Medical Lab Sciences and biotechnology, RIMT University, Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab, India.
2Department of Microbiology, Desh Bhagat University, Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab, India.
3School of Allied Health Care Sciences, CGC University, Mohali, Punjab, India.
Article Number: 11700 | © The Author(s). 2026
J Pure Appl Microbiol. 2026;20(3):2060-2075. https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.20.3.54
Received: 22 April 2026 | Accepted: 30 July 2026 | Published online: 03 September 2026
Issue online: September 2026
Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health issue, particularly in India. Last-resort antibiotics have been weakened by the emergence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). This is complicated further by the plasmid-mediated mcr-1 gene, which confers colistin resistance and allows it to spread rapidly through sewage, agriculture, and healthcare systems. The high prevalence of CRE and CRAB in Indian intensive care units, which are frequently caused by NDM and OXA-23-like genes, leads to higher mortality rates and longer hospitalisation. The coexistence of mcr-1 and carbapenemase genes results in pan-drug-resistant “superbugs”. Inappropriate antibiotic use, non-therapeutic use of agricultural colistin, and inadequate infection control are major contributors to antibiotic resistance reservoirs in the environment. India faces challenges in coordinating and enforcing initiatives such as the National Action Plan on AMR, NARS-Net (National Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network), and stewardship programmes. To combat this growing threat, a long-term, comprehensive “One Health” strategy involving strict regulatory enforcement, cross-sectoral collaboration, and effective surveillance is required.

Keywords

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), National Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (NARS-Net), New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase (NDM), Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB)

Article Metrics

Article View: 178

Share This Article

© The Author(s) 2026. Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License which permits unrestricted use, sharing, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.