FAO-ICAR holds meet on Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major and serious concern world over in combating infectious diseases. To surmount this challenge is t adopt ‘One health’ approach with coordination and cooperation between human health, veterinary and environment sectors. There is urgent need to unravel the mysteries related to emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Pragmatization of recognized strategies in the context of Indian veterinary scenario also needs further studies for confirming their efficacy and output in indigenous scenario.

Understanding of the antimicrobial use, assessing the problem of AMR, observing trends over a period of time and evaluating the impact of interventions are the purposes that necessitate the development of research procedures and their implementation to illuminate the answers pertinent to National Action Plan for AMR. India is blessed with the vast base of investigators in its Veterinary Colleges, research institutes and Universities. The country is also bestowed with capability and infrastructure to undertake AMR related research works. Hence there is a need to identify significant research areas that can be taken up to generate evidence-base for instituting measures to prevent and contain AMR in the veterinary sector. With this premise a 2-day meeting of researchers on “Identification of research priorities in veterinary sector for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) “ was organized at CIFT, Cochin during 27-28 March-2017 to discuss the research needs, capabilities and priorities for AMR in India and mechanism to disseminate these across the country.

The meeting was attended by experts from different parts of the country constituting scientists form Fisheries Institutes of ICAR namely, CIFT, CIFA, CIBA and CIBA and Professors from different Veterinary and Medical Colleges. In the inaugural address Dr.C.N. Ravi Shankar, Director, CIFT welcomed the august gathering and Dr M.M Prasad, HOD, MFB thanked the delegates. He has given in-depth details about research activities of CIFT with special emphasis to AMR research carried out at the Institute on Fish, fishery products and fish curing environments. Dr Sunil Gupta, Additional Director, NCDC talked about antimicrobial resistance and its impact on disease prevention and control.

Dr Sara Heydari, Advisor, USAID, New Delhi, while addressing the gathering stressed on the coordination between the research institutes across the country and also for uniformity in the methods to over the AMR problem. Dr Rajesh Bhatia, Regional Technical Advisor for AMR of FAO, New Delhi spoke on FAO perspectives and mechanism of meeting. The programme was coordinated by Mr Rajesh Dubey, Operations Officer, and FAO New Delhi. The participants from CIFT were Dr M.M Prasad, Dr Toms C Joseph, Dr B.Madhusudhana Rao, Pirncipal Scientist, Dr S.K. Panda, Seniro Scientist, Dr V. Murugadas, Dr Pankaj Kishore, Mr K.A.Basha, Ms.S.S Greeshama, Scientists, Mr P.Sasheer, Mr P.G.Akhil Nath and Ms V. Athira, Research Scholars.

During the two day deliberations by experts on the theme areas of Antimicrobial resistances (AMR) identified included: Understanding magnitude of AMR, Antimicrobial usage( AM) and their relationship, Elucidating factors responsible for emergence fo resistance,Insight into costs and behavioral components of use of antibiotics, Programmatic operational research, Understanding spread of resistance form animals to humans, Development of interventions to reduce transmission, and Adaptation of new tools and innovations.

At the end of the group discussion, 21 concept notes were proposed and presented by the groups on the selected theme to the panel of experts. Projects proposed were the reflection of antimicrobial resistances, links between AMU and AMR, direction of transmission of antimicrobial resistance, rate of development of antimicrobial resistance, surveillance and monitoring of counterfeit and fake usage of antibiotics, rapid diagnostic development, alternatives to antibiotics usage and other preventive methods of vaccines Politics. The proposed concept notes were deliberated during the presentation by the group member for the content, objectives. Finalized project concept note were the research priorities for AMR in Animal Health Sector and these research priorities will be compiled and sent to the various Universities and State Agriculture institutions.

Source : Aqua International

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