India has one of highest rates of antibiotic resistance

The countries consuming the most antibiotics overall in 2010 were India (13 billion Standard Unit (SU)), China (10 billion SU) and the US, (7 billion SU), according to the study.

In terms of human use of antibiotics, the report said the highest rates of increase are in middle-income countries, particularly the BRICS, a trend that is likely to continue as incomes continue to rise.

"BRICS had the greatest upsurge in antibiotic use from 2000 through 2010:68 per cent in Brazil, 19 per cent in Russia, 66 per cent in India, 37 per cent in China, and 219 per cent in South Africa," the report said.

Explaining the trends further, Mr Laxminarayan said the increased demand for animal protein and resulting intensification of food animal production is leading to greater use of antibiotics in agriculture, again driving resistance.

"In India, the use of antibiotics in pre-mixed feed for livestock is going up a lot. We are not even aware that antibiotics are going inside our system. The strategy would be to stop use of antibiotics in the pre-mixed feed," Mr Laxminarayan, also associated with Public Health Foundation of India, elaborated.

Though the Indian Council of Medical Research began setting up the Anti-Microbial Resistance Surveillance Network in 2011, Mr Laxminarayan said surveillance alone is not enough. The key is preventing intake of antibiotics in cases where they are not needed.

"The first step would be to not purchase antibiotics over the counter without a doctor's prescription. Doctors should also exercise caution while prescribing them," he said.