Addressing a press conference during Criticare 2026 in the city, ISCCM office-bearers said that critically ill patients were bearing the brunt of shrinking antibiotic options, with multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens complicating care and escalating mortality.

“In ICUs, every fever is not an infection. Before initiating antibiotics, clinicians must carefully assess the cause, identify the source of sepsis where present, and prescribe targeted anti-infectives for a defined duration. Indiscriminate use fuels resistance and forces us to rely on stronger, limited drugs,” said Dr Sachin Gupta, general secretary, ISCCM.

Pradip Kumar Bhattacharya, former president, ISCCM, said patients referred from smaller hospitals often arrived with resistant infections. “Infection control standards followed at tertiary centres must percolate to peripheral facilities. High-end, broad-spectrum antibiotics are frequently used inappropriately before referral, leaving us with fewer effective options,” he noted.

Dr Ranvir Singh Tyagi, president-elect, stressed the need for a three-pronged approach: public education, clinician training and robust diagnostic systems. “Antibiotics are still accessed without restriction, and improper culture testing complicates treatment decisions,” he said.