PUDUCHERRY: The Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) is conducting a workshop-cum-training in antibiotic resistance monitoring practices for patient care. The programme began on Wednesday and will continue on Thursday as well.
The hands-on workshop for clinical microbiologists is being held to present examples of recent resistance developments, discuss reasons for it and to provide evidence based recommendations for implementation of strategies for containment of resistance, according to a PIMS release.
The workshop highlights update on burden of antibiotic resistance on health and economy, global strategic plan to prevent and control antibiotic resistance, and a national plan to detect, prevent and control antibiotic resistance.
Participants will undergo hands-on training on recommended practices for antibiotic testing in diagnostic laboratory based on international guidelines. Surgical site infections, urinary tract infections and blood stream infections, apart from antibiotic monitoring, antibiotic policy and steps in implementing antibiotic stewardship programmes in hospitals are some of the areas of training. A total of 20 participants from across India are being trained by experts from the US, PGI, Chandigarh, and the PIMS.
In addition, a hands-on training workshop on ‘Molecular diagnosis as in clinical microbiology’ is also being held. Molecular diagnostic methods detecting nucleic acid and mutations in the genome of micro organisms have revolutionised the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. Molecular tests have been widely applied in recent years for rapid and confirmatory diagnosis in outbreaks and epidemics.
Application of these techniques in the diagnostic lab requires the clinical microbiologist to be familiar with these methods. Trained faculty from Department of Microbiology, PIMS, in collaboration with senior faculty from Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, and Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi, are the facilitators. The participants will be trained in DNA extraction, conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction, Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification assay and Line Probe Assay. The objectives of the training workshop will be achieved through demonstrations and lectures.