A recent in-depth review published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (Oxford University Press) has identified extremely high rates of antimicrobial resistance to bloodstream infections in neonates and children in India.

In a survey of over 50,000 reported blood cultures, almost one-third (29.1%) were positive for pathogens. It is important to note that approximately one half of the staphylococcus aureus pathogens were reported as methicillin-resistant.

These high rates of resistance to WHO-recommended first-line treatment options underline the need to enhance antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention and control measures in the Indian context.