As antibiotics fail, AIIMS leads the fight against superbugs, Pg20

Key Highlights:

• AIIMS Delhi is leading research efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing global health threat.
• Drug-resistant infections could cause 10 million deaths worldwide by 2050, with India bearing a significant burden (2.97 lakh deaths in 2019).
• AIIMS is designated as an Infectious Disease Research Diagnostic Laboratory (IRDL) centre and coordinates the Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (AMRSN).
• Research focuses on early diagnosis, targeted therapy, improved diagnostics, and promoting rational antibiotic use to reduce AMR.

Detailed Insights:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms evolve to survive exposure to medicines designed to kill them, posing a significant threat to public health.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

• Empirical antibiotic use, often started before identifying the causative pathogen, is a major driver of AMR, but AIIMS studies aim to shorten the window of uncertainty through improved diagnostics.
• Sepsis, a life-threatening condition triggered by the body’s response to infection, is a key focus, with research aimed at identifying site-specific biomarkers for early detection of bacteremia.
• ESKAPE pathogens like Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are increasingly common in India, prompting research into rapid detection methods for resistance patterns.
• Quorum sensing inhibitors are being explored as alternative treatments, disrupting bacterial communication systems to prevent coordinated harmful effects.
• The BPaL-M regimen (bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid, and moxifloxacin) has revolutionized treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis, shortening therapy to six months with high success rates.
• Effective hospital infection control, including strict cleaning, disinfection, hand hygiene, and antimicrobial stewardship, is crucial in preventing the spread of resistant bacteria.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): The ability of microorganisms to resist the effects of antimicrobial drugs, making infections harder to treat.
• ESKAPE Pathogens: A group of highly drug-resistant bacteria that pose a significant threat to human health.
• Quorum Sensing: A bacterial communication system that allows cells to coordinate group behavior.
• Bacteremia: The presence of bacteria in the bloodstream, which can lead to sepsis.