Vision

Inappropriate use of antibiotics is rampant in India; there is an urgent need to improve antibiotic use in hospitals which can be achieved through implementation of good Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (AMSP).

AMS programs help clinicians to improve the quality of patient care and patient safety by

• Increasing infection-cure rates,
• Reducing treatment failures, and
• Increasing the frequency of correct prescribing for therapy and prophylaxis

A strong AMSP can both optimize the treatment of infections and reduce adverse events associated with antibiotic use.

ICMR’s survey highlighted the need to strengthen AMSP and infection control policies in the health care institutions across country.

ICMR’s AMSP initiative

ICMR has initiated AMSP activities to harmonise infection control practices and strengthen AMS programmes. ICMR has developed a curriculum and guidance document on AMSP which can be utilised by health care institutions to strengthen their AMSP. Other AMSP activities include conducting workshops and developing AMSP research projects.

ICMR’s Infection Control Guidelines, if enforced, have potential to go a long way in reducing the infections in hospitals and thus bringing down the rates of drug-resistant infections.

The Infectious Diseases Physicians and Clinical Pharmacists are pillar of a good AMSP that need to be further strengthened, and their absence in government institutions demands careful attention.