Fostering research into antimicrobial resistance in India

Bhabatosh Das and colleagues discuss research and development of new antimicrobials and rapid diagnostics, which are crucial for tackling antimicrobial resistance in India #### Key messages India is among the world’s largest consumers of antibiotics.1 The efficacy of several antibiotics is threatened by the emergence of resistant microbial pathogens. Multiple factors, such as a high burden of disease, poor public health infrastructure, rising incomes, and unregulated sales of cheap antibiotics, have amplified the crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in India.2 The Global Action Plan on AMR emphasises the need to increase knowledge through surveillance and research.3Box 1 provides examples of global research into AMR and its impact. Most research into AMR is carried out in developed countries. This includes research into the biology of resistant pathogens,1112 mechanisms of AMR,131415 natural sources of AMR,1617 development of new antimicrobials from uncultured bacteria,18 expanding the chemical diversity of existing antimicrobials,19 resensitising resistant pathogens against available antibiotics,20 and development of non-antibiotic agents as substitutes.21Table 1⇓ outlines the scope of research into AMR and the importance of the different areas of research. #### Box 1: Examples of the impact of antimicrobial resistance research and interventions globally