Developing a hybrid antimicrobial resistance surveillance system in India: Needs & challenges

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global health challenge.
• Developing new antibiotics is costly and time-consuming.
• Effective AMR surveillance requires robust data management and analysis tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address limitations of existing AMR surveillance tools in India.
• To develop a hybrid tool for standardized data collection and integration.
• To present a comprehensive national overview of antimicrobial resistance.

Main Methods:

• Development of the i-AMRSS tool by the Indian Council of Medical Research.
• Standardized data collection from collaborating laboratories.
• Centralized storage, management, and real-time analysis of AMR susceptibility testing data.

Main Results:

• The i-AMRSS tool facilitates data collection from diverse laboratory settings.
• It enables integrated data management from multiple sources.
• Real-time analytics and reporting capabilities are provided for comprehensive surveillance.

Conclusions:

• The i-AMRSS tool offers a solution for effective antimicrobial resistance surveillance in India.
• It supports better utilization of existing antibiotics through enhanced data insights.
• This informatics tool is crucial for national AMR monitoring and control strategies.