Antimicrobial Resistance
CDC India works to scale-up AMR/HAI surveillance and to build and institutionalize IPC capacity across the country.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious problem in the United States, India, and around the world. AMR is a particular challenge in India due to the high burden of communicable diseases, an overburdened public health system, limited laboratory capacity for etiology-based diagnosis and appropriately targeted treatment, inexpensive and widely available antibiotics without prescriptions, inconsistent infection prevention control (IPC) practices, and the lack of standardized effective surveillance platforms that monitor healthcare-associated infections (HAI).
AIIMS staff preparing alcohol-based rub to address increased demand during the COVID-19 surge, 2020
CDC supported training for lab scientists across India on antibiotic susceptibility testing for colistin using broth microdilution, Chandigarh, Punjab, 2018. Photo credit: CDC India office
CDC staff trains lab scientists across India on antibiotic susceptibility testing for colistin using broth microdilution, Chandigarh, Punjab, 2018. Photo credit: CDC India office
- Partnered with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to develop and implement a network for surveillance and prevention of HAIs, helping to grow the network from 5 hospitals in 2016, to 36 sites in 24 states in 2021
- Supported GOI’s National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) in the establishment of National Antimicrobial Surveillance Network (NARS-Net), increasing the initial network of 10 labs in 2013, to 35 labs located across 26 states and union territories today
- AMR accomplishments with GOI partners include:
- AMR surveillance in human health through sentinel surveillance approach compatible with WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS); GOI is actively contributing AMR data to GLASS
- Standardized surveillance for healthcare associated bloodstream and urinary tract infections
- Detected HAI outbreaks caused by multidrug-resistant bacterial and fungal pathogens
- Supported quarterly HAI data reporting to the MOHFW that is used for prevention efforts
- Assessment of baseline AMR surveillance readiness using standard CDC tools
- Developed standard operating protocols for AMR surveillance
- Developed national standards for quality assured antimicrobial susceptibility data
- Supported publication of national AMR estimate reports for human health
- Initiated an AMR ECHO training program to promote use of standardarized laboratory testing practices
As part of the larger GHSA efforts, CDC India works to scale-up AMR/HAI surveillance and to build and institutionalize IPC capacity across the country. During the COVID-19 pandemic, GOI used various networks, including the HAI surveillance network and NCDC’s NARS-Net, to quickly disseminate IPC guidance and information. In coordination with CDC India, CDC’s International Infection Control Program works with partners at the national and state level to support and expand surveillance and prevention of HAIs, IPC programs, detection and reporting of AMR pathogens, COVID-19 response, and antimicrobial stewardship programs.
CDC India’s role as a technical advisory group member to support the National Action Plan for AMR control also continues. These efforts lay the foundation for sustainable data-driven programs that will inform policy, guidelines, and activities to limit the spread of AMR.
