Emerging trends in antimicrobial resistance in bloodstream infections: multicentric longitudinal study in India (2017-2022).

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has escalated to pandemic levels, posing a significant global health threat. This study examines the patterns and trends of AMR in Bloodstream Infections (BSIs) across India, aiming to inform better surveillance and intervention strategies.

Methods: Six-year data from 21 tertiary care centers in the Indian Council of Medical Research's AMR Surveillance Network (IAMRSN) were retrospectively analyzed to estimate cluster-robust trends in resistance. Time-series analysis was used to discern lead/lag relationships between antibiotic pairs and the directional influence of resistance in community and hospital-acquired BSIs(CA/HA BSIs). A data-driven Bayesian network ensemble averaged over 301 bootstrap samples was modelled to uncover systemic associations between AMR and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Findings: Our findings indicate significant (p < 0.001) monthly increases in Imipenem and Meropenem resistance for , , and BSIs. Importantly, Carbapenem resistance in HA-BSIs preceded that in CA-BSIs for and (p < 0.05). At a national level, Cefotaxime resistance emerged as a potential early indicator for emerging Carbapenem resistance, proposing a novel surveillance marker. In BSIs, states with higher achievement of SDG3 goals showed lower Imipenem resistance. A model-based AMR scorecard is introduced for focused interventions and continuous monitoring.

Interpretation: The identified spatiotemporal trends and drug resistance associations offer critical insights for AMR surveillance aligning with WHO GLASS standards.The escalation of carbapenem resistance in BSIs demands vigilant monitoring and may be crucial for achieving SDGs by 2030. Implementing the proposed framework for data-driven evidence can help nations achieve proactive AMR surveillance.

Funding: No specific funding was received for this analysis.