Antimicrobial Stewardship
Over years, IPH has focussed on several aspects of infectious diseases research projects. Currently a new cluster is taking the initiative to address Antimicrobial Resistance, one of the major national public health problems. It is crucial to find means to address the major negative impacts on health and development of our society as available and inexpensive antibiotics are increasingly becoming ineffective in treating infections. Globally, it is estimated that if the current inadequate actions towards AMR continues, it will increase the current annual estimated global death toll of 700,000 to 10 million and accrue 100 trillion USD in health care cost
High use of antibiotics in India in human (and animal) health issues requires stewardship to preserve available antimicrobial medicines. The new Cluster, Antimicrobial Stewardship, will focus on appropriate use of antibiotics for human health related projects. This will be done by building local and international collaborations to initiate the following projects by partnering with Karuna Trust:
- Operational research in primary health care centers (PHCs) by documenting current antibiotic usage patterns
- Operationalising Antimicrobial Stewardship programs in PHCs by strengthening Medicines and Therapeutics Committees
- Developing and testing Antimicrobial Stewardship programs in schools for adolescent learners
- Operationalising Antimicrobial Stewardship programs in PHCs for auxiliary health workers
Sunitha SrinivasCluster Lead