Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at the community level: An urban and rural case study from Karnataka

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health crisis in India and globally. While national guidelines exist, the sources of data which form the basis of these guidelines are limited to a few well‑established tertiary care centres. There is inadequate literature on AMR and antibiotic mismatch from India at community level and even less literature on AMR patterns from rural India. 

Our study finds the burden of AMR high in both rural and urban sites, reinforcing that AMR burden cannot be ignored in rural settings. It also highlights that national data obtained from tertiary care settings fail to capture the local picture, highlighting the need for local data. Mechanisms of linking rural practices, primary health centres, and small hospitals with a common microbiology laboratory and shared data platforms will facilitate antibiotic stewardship at the community level.