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NCDC’s first multicentric point prevalence study on antibiotic usage

Content Editor: Dr Urmimala Maiti

January 12, 2024 at 1:30:00 PM

Antimicrobial Resistance, NCDC, Research findings

Content Editor: Dr Urmimala Maiti

  • Owing to a lack of studies on the patient-level use of antibiotics, the NCDC conducted India's first Multicentric point prevalence survey from November 2021 to April 2022.

  • 20 out of 35 tertiary centers of the National Antimicrobial Consumption Networks participated in the point prevalence study.

  • The findings of the study are as follows:

  1. The total prevalence of antibiotic use was 71.9%

  2. 86.5% of those were administered through the parental route

  3. 45% on therapeutic and 55% on prophylactic indications.

  • The prescriptions used were classified according to the AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) classification recommended by WHO.

  • According to this classification, the antibiotics used belonged to the following groups:

  1. 38% to the Access Group

  2. 57% to the Watch Group

  3. 2% to the Reserve Group

  • Maximum usage was of those antibiotics that have the highest potential to develop resistance and fall under the category of Critically important antimicrobials for humans.

  • Hence the study emphasises the need for rational use of antibiotics.

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