Have a look at the guidelines issued by the ICMR for New antimicrobial treatment

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• Nov 28, 2022 | Poonam Nath

Senior ICMR scientists announced on Saturday that the latest guidelines, titled "Treatment Guidelines for Antimicrobial Use in Common Syndromes," are now available...

Digital Desk: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) published a revised set of guidelines for antibiotic treatment in India on Saturday. 

According to ICMR senior scientists, the updated guidelines, titled 'Treatment Guidelines for Antimicrobial Use in Common Syndromes,' are a revised version of the original 2017 National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR). 

The second version was published in 2019 and included updated information on treatment guidelines for bone and joint infections, skin and soft tissue infections, and central nervous system infections, as well as the dose, route of administration, and duration of therapy.

The latest declaration also intends to address AMR, which causes over two million infections each year and at least 23,000 deaths, according to ICMR data. 

"The NAP-AMR strategic objectives are consistent with the worldwide action plan." At the same time, it is based on national needs and priorities," according to an ICMR representative.

Scientists also stated that the latest document was especially relevant in the post-Covid-19 environment due to unrestricted antimicrobial use. Experts have warned that Covid-19 has shown a significant development in resistance to several key antibiotics and antifungals. 

A study conducted this year by the ICMR indicated that resistance to carbapenems — medications used to treat common infections like pneumonia in ICU (intensive care unit) settings – rose in 2021, restricting treatment choices. 

Antimicrobial resistance develops naturally through the process of evolution, according to scientists, but drug abuse can hasten the process. Some bacteria may survive if the medications are not used correctly. According to the experts, the remaining bacteria subsequently multiply, leading to an increase in drug-resistant diseases in the environment.