ICMR to Formulate Evidence-Based Antibiotics Guidelines

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is developing its first comprehensive evidence-based guidelines for antibiotic use against upper respiratory infections, fever, and pneumonia. This initiative involves conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses, assessed using the GRADE approach. Researchers are invited to submit Expressions of Interest.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is taking a significant step towards developing comprehensive evidence-based guidelines for the empirical use of antibiotics in treating upper respiratory infections, fever, and community-acquired pneumonia.

The initiative will involve compiling systematic reviews and meta-analyses from existing literature, focusing on well-defined review questions. These will then be assessed for their strength using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) Approach.

ICMR has also invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) from researchers to contribute to this grading methodology, which will evaluate evidence quality and assist in forming recommendations through the Evidence to Decision (EtD) framework.

(With inputs from agencies.)