<b>Molecular Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance in Human Clinical Isolates : A Clinician- Scientist Growth Journey</b>
<p dir="ltr">This groundbreaking study, Molecular Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance in Human Clinical Isolates: A Clinician-Scientist Growth Journey, delivers an unparalleled analysis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in 242 discarded clinical isolates from Banas Civil Hospital, Banaskantha, Gujarat, India, collected between 2021 and 2025. Spearheaded by Dr. Atul Amarshibhai Devganiya (MBBS, Banas Medical College & Research Institute; Lecturer, Kiran Medical College, Surat), it tackles AMR challenges in a region shaped by environmental stressors like drought and floods. Inspired by a 45-year-old farmer, Keshav, whose infections resisted treatments such as amoxicillin-clavulanate, azithromycin, cefixime, and piperacillin-tazobactam, the study leverages waste samples to pioneer molecular insights. Advanced PCR and Sanger sequencing identified resistance genes: blaCTX-M (42%), blaNDM (11%), blaOXA-48-like (8%), blaKPC (5%), and blaVIM (3%) in E. coli and K. pneumoniae. Phenotypic-genotypic concordance reached an exceptional κ >0.8, validated with cutting-edge R software (v4.3.2) and ggplot2 visualizations. The 242 isolates, derived from discarded blood, urine, and sputum samples, mirror India’s escalating ESBL and CRE crisis. Methodology evolved from manual disk diffusion in 2021 to sophisticated digital logs and Qiagen DNA extraction by 2025, achieving a stellar 95% DNA yield. Detailed appendices showcase refined PCR protocols, comprehensive raw data summaries, dynamic resistance heatmaps, and MDR trend lines (20% in 2021 to 35% in 2024). Utilizing ethically exempt waste samples per institutional norms, data access is available upon request from the corresponding author. This elite resource redefines rural Indian AMR surveillance with global impact. Keywords: AMR, microbiology, clinical isolates, molecular surveillance.</p>
