Last Updated on August 19, 2024 by The Health Master
Antibiotic
The fight against antibiotic resistance takes a crucial step forward with the Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) announcement of a groundbreaking initiative.
This initiative aims to develop evidence-based guidelines for the empirical use of antibiotics in treating sepsis, dental infections, and vaginal discharge.
Addressing a Growing Public Health Threat
The overuse and misuse of antibiotics have become a significant public health concern, leading to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
These “superbugs” pose a major threat, rendering existing antibiotics ineffective against infections.
To combat this growing challenge, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) has initiated a collaborative project with ICMR at the forefront.
A Collaborative Effort for National Healthcare Advancement
This initiative represents a significant leap in India’s journey towards evidence-based medicine.
It brings together leading institutions like the Department of Health & Family Welfare (DoHFW), the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), and the Department of Health Research (DHR).
By leveraging expert knowledge across these institutions, the project seeks to establish robust guidelines for antibiotic use across various clinical scenarios.
Building on the Best Available Evidence
The core of this initiative lies in systematically compiling the best available evidence from existing medical literature.
This evidence will be used to guide healthcare professionals in making informed decisions about antibiotic therapy.
Key aspects of these decisions include:
- Initiation: When should antibiotic treatment begin?
- Choice: Which specific antibiotic is most appropriate?
- Duration: How long should the antibiotic course last?
- Adjustment: How should the treatment plan be adjusted based on patient response and emerging information?
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Rigorous Evaluation
To ensure the highest quality of evidence, the initiative will employ systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
This rigorous approach utilizes the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) framework.
The GRADE approach assesses the strength and quality of evidence, ultimately leading to more reliable and actionable recommendations.
Expert Teams for Evidence-Based Guidance
ICMR is inviting applications from qualified professionals to form the research teams for these crucial systematic reviews.
These teams will be responsible for meticulously evaluating existing research on specific clinical questions.
The questions will be predetermined by the Guideline Development Groups (GDGs) working on the antibiotic guidelines.
Eligibility and Expertise Requirements
To participate in this project, applicants must possess the following qualifications:
- Professional experience: Researchers, scientists (including those affiliated with ICMR), and faculty with regular employment in medical institutions, research institutes, universities, or colleges.
- Systematic review expertise: Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in conducting systematic reviews using established methodologies.
- Publication history: At least two published systematic reviews in PubMed-indexed journals related to the focus areas (sepsis, dental infections, vaginal discharge).
- Team composition: The proposal must include a team comprised of a subject expert, a methodologist/systematic review expert, and a statistician.
Time-Sensitive Project with Competitive Funding
The systematic reviews commissioned under this initiative are highly time-sensitive.
To ensure efficient completion, the project demands the selected teams to finish their work within a strict three-month timeframe.
Financial support is a crucial aspect of this project. ICMR offers financial assistance of up to Rs. 5 lakhs to non-ICMR institutes for conducting the reviews.
This funding covers contingency expenses like software purchases, database access, meetings, honorariums, and travel costs.
Institutes affiliated with ICMR can utilize their own intramural funding to facilitate their participation.
Submission Process and Timeline
Researchers with the required expertise and resources are encouraged to submit their Expressions of Interest (EoI) by August 31st, 2024.
The submission process involves a Google form accessible through the provided link (link to be included by source).
Following the submission deadline, an expert committee will review the proposals.
Shortlisted applicants will be notified in September 2024 via email and the ICMR website.
For further details, interested researchers can contact:
Dr. Roopa Hariprasad, Scientist-F Centre for Evidence for Guidelines, Department of Health Research Email: roopa.hariprasad@gov.in Phone: 9818278797
This initiative by ICMR presents a significant opportunity to advance evidence-based antibiotic use in India.
By promoting responsible antibiotic stewardship, this project can contribute significantly to curbing the growing threat of antibiotic resistance and ensuring optimal patient care.
Disclaimer: This article contains information derived from the source mentioned below. Our team utilized an AI language model to rewrite and present the news or article in a unique format.
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