Evidence-based guidelines for antibiotic use to be developed by ICMR

New Delhi: The first complete set of evidence-based guidelines on the empirical use of antibiotics for fever, community-acquired pneumonia, and upper respiratory infections is being developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

The process of generating such evidence will entail the compilation of systematic reviews and meta-analyses from the existing literature, focusing on well-defined review questions, sources said.

The evidence derived from these systematic reviews and meta-analyses will be systematically assessed for its strength by utilising the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) Approach, they said.

In this connection, the apex health research body has invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) from researchers, PTI reported.

This grading methodology will serve to evaluate the quality of evidence, which will subsequently inform the formulation of recommendations following the application of the Evidence to Decision (EtD) framework.

The PICO review questions are divided into four scopes -- when to start the empirical antibiotics, which class of antibiotics to start empirically, when to stop empirical antibiotics and when to change antibiotics.