'Superbugs' in Delhi air! Forget toxic smog, capital's winter air now carries antibiotic-resistant bacteria, study reveals

The research marks the first study of its kind in Delhi and points to alarmingly high levels of staphylococcal bacteria in both indoor and outdoor air samples across the city.

• Delhi's winter air found to carry antibiotic-resistant superbugs
• Study shows staphylococcal bacteria levels far exceed WHO safe limits
• Researchers urge systematic monitoring of environmental antimicrobial resistance

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Every winter, Delhi battles toxic smog, deteriorating air quality and a host of seasonal infections. Many residents feel that winters in the Capital are becoming harsher with each passing year. This perception, however, is not just anecdotal-it is backed by scientific evidence.

A recent study conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru University has found that Delhi's winter air has become a carrier of "superbugs." The presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the air has raised concerns, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.

"Of the 100 isolates (single, pure strains of bacteria separated from a mixed pool), 73% were resistant to a single drug, while 36% showed multi-drug resistance," corresponding author Madhuri Singh from the School of Environmental Sciences at Jawaharlal Nehru University was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. The findings of the study have been published in the latest edition of the scientific journal Nature.

The research marks the first study of its kind in Delhi and points to alarmingly high levels of staphylococcal bacteria in both indoor and outdoor air samples across the city. The bacterial load exceeded 16,000 CFU per cubic metre, far surpassing the World Health Organization's recommended limit of 1,000 CFU per cubic metre for microbial exposure. Seasonal analysis showed concentrations peaking during winter, while outdoor levels dipped during the monsoon, though indoor air continued to pose a risk.

The findings underline the urgent need for systematic monitoring and public reporting of environmental antimicrobial resistance (AMR), covering not only antibiotic-resistant bacteria but also the genetic markers linked to resistance. Such tracking, the study notes, is essential to accurately assess the scale of the AMR threat and develop coordinated action plans to address it in urban environments.

To arrive at its conclusions, the study examined the prevalence and diversity of staphylococci in airborne particles collected from multiple urban settings in Delhi. These included the Vasant Vihar Urban Slum (VVUS), Munirka Market Complex (MMC), Munirka Apartments (MA), and the sewage treatment plant at Jawaharlal Nehru University (STP, JNU).