Masterclass organized by BD-India to combat the growing antimicrobial resistance
Hyderabad: Addressing the concern of the most significant threats to the health and well-being of the world’s population, BD, a leading medical technology company in India recently organized a multi-city masterclass on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). The masterclass organized at the Hyderabad city witnessed the participation of international speakers, healthcare experts and city’s leading microbiologists. The key topics deliberated were on the impact of AMR to patients and the impact of patient outcomes through improved diagnostic solutions.
Dr. Patrick R Murray, VP-Scientific Affairs, BD Life Sciences said, “The rapidly growing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) must be addressed now. Only with the use of rapid, accurate diagnostic tests can physicians identify specifically the infecting organism and move from empiric therapy to appropriate directed therapy. Diagnostic Stewardship, Antibiotic Stewardship, and Infection Control and Prevention Stewardship are the foundation for solving the AMR problem.”
AMR occurs when antimicrobials (the life-saving drugs), which are commonly used to treat infections, stop working as the organism becomes resistant to the drug. India carries one of the largest burdens of drug-resistant pathogens worldwide and it is one of the largest consumers of antibiotics worldwide. Healthcare settings are high-risk environments for the spread of organisms that cause infections. 7% to 10% of hospitalized patients and 33% of patients in intensive care units contract at least one healthcare-associated infection. 25% of healthcare-associated infections in long-term acute care settings are caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
In India, lately we have received various concerns from patients on AMR. With the advancing of these bacteria and the number of infections attacking us, it is very essential that we curb the issue of AMR as resistant infections spread easily among patients in health care facilities. Hence, it becomes very critical for India to tackle this problem before it affects the masses and leads to mortality”, said Dr. Iyer Ranganathan N, Senior Consultant Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Global Hospitals, Hyderabad.
AMR is a major challenge in the management of seriously ill patients in recent time in this country. It has become very important for us to face this challenge and reduce colonization and infection caused by such micro- organisms. This is essential as resistant micro- organisms also called as MDR organisms spread rapidly from one patient to another in health care facilities. The masses in this country would most certainly suffer from serious recalcitrant infections if immediate and adequate steps aren’t taken to tackle this problem.
On this occasion, Pavan Mocherla, Managing Director, BD-India/South Asia said, “Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most serious global public health threats in this century. The capabilities of BD as a company are highly relevant to the global objective to prevent and control AMR. With a broad portfolio of AMR solutions supporting infection prevention and control, diagnostic testing and surveillance and reporting, we believe we can enhance our customers’ ability to contain AMR and achieve effective antimicrobial stewardship.”
BD diagnostic platforms reduce the risk of transmission of HAIs, promote fully informed prescribing decisions and enhance clinical outcomes by rapidly identifying major drug-resistant threats identified by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.