Criticare 2026 Conference Highlights Growing AMR Threat in ICUs; ISCCM Call for Stronger Stewardship and Policy Action

Chennai, February 28, 2026: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) has emerged as one of the most urgent threats to critical care medicine, particularly in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), where life-saving treatments are increasingly failing against highly resistant pathogens. At Criticare 2026, leading intensivists and experts emphasized how AMR is reshaping ICU infection management in India and globally.

From L to R: Dr Kalavathy Swarna; Dr Ranvir Singh Tyagi; Dr Srinivas Samavedam; Dr Sachin Gupta; Dr Ganshyam Jagathkar; Dr Pradip Kumar Bhattacharya; Dr Susovan Mitra; Dr Sathya AC

The conference, held from February 27 to March 1, witnessed a grand opening ceremony with over 15,000 registrations and participation from 300 national and international faculty members. Addressing the press, Dr. Sachin Gupta, General Secretary, ISCCM, stressed the need for judicious antibiotic use in ICUs. He noted that not every fever warrants antibiotics and that careful clinical evaluation is essential before initiating therapy. He underscored the importance of identifying the source of infection, confirming sepsis when present, and prescribing targeted anti-infectives for a defined duration to prevent the cycle of resistance.

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Prof. Pradip Kumar Bhattacharya, Immediate Past President, ISCCM, highlighted that many patients referred from smaller hospitals already carry resistant infections. He stressed that infection control standards practiced at tertiary centers must extend to smaller hospitals, supported by robust implementation of government guidelines. He also raised concerns about the inappropriate early use of high-end, broad-spectrum antibiotics before referral, warning that the pool of effective antibiotics is rapidly shrinking.

Dr. Ranvir Singh Tyagi, President Elect, ISCCM, emphasized a three-pronged approach to tackling AMR—public awareness, structured doctor training, and strengthened diagnostic systems. He noted that easy access to antibiotics and inadequate culture and sensitivity testing contribute significantly to the growing resistance crisis in India.

Dr. Kalavathy Swarna, Secretary, ISCCM Chennai branch, called antibiotic resistance a growing public health emergency, urging strict infection control practices in hospitals alongside preventive measures at the individual level.

Speaking on the role of technology, Dr. Srinivas Samavedam, President, ISCCM, highlighted the transformative potential of data science and artificial intelligence in personalizing therapy and fine-tuning treatment strategies. He added that ISCCM continues to run multidisciplinary training programs for nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, and nutritionists to ensure comprehensive patient care.

Experts at Criticare 2026 collectively called for stronger antimicrobial stewardship, improved infection prevention protocols, and a robust national policy framework to curb the accelerating AMR crisis.

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