Linking access to stewardship: a pathway for introducing reserve antibiotics in India

Abstract

India faces a dual challenge of poor access and inappropriate use of antibiotics, fuelling antimicrobial resistance. In this context, the appropriate use of novel antibiotics demands innovation in their introduction into clinical practice in Indian healthcare settings. Novel stewardship-linked differential access pathways for health care facilities based on good antibiotic stewardship practice could offer a feasible solution. Early planning, targeted stewardship strategies and real-time monitoring are critical to developing scalable models for introduction and usage of reserve class of antibiotics in India. Such models may provide lessons learned that could be adapted and adopted by settings or countries beyond India.