FAO publishes first national report on AMR surveillance in India’s fisheries, livestock sectors (GS Paper 3, Economy)
Why in news?
- Recently, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) published the surveillance data of the Indian Network for Fishery and Animal Antimicrobial Resistance (INFAAR) for 2019-22.
- This is the first report on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance trends in fisheries and livestock sector from India.
Classification:
- Antibiotic use in food animal production is known to be a driver for AMR. In this context, data generated on AMR trends will be helpful to inform policy and decision making for AMR containment.
- Within the fisheries sector, three key production systems were covered; freshwater, brackish-water and marine.
- According to FAO definitions of aquaculture environments, freshwater systems include freshwater bodies like rivers or lakes, where salinity is typically below 0.5 per cent.
- Brackish-water systems involve sources such as estuaries and bays, where salinity ranges between 0.5 per cent and full-strength seawater.
- Marine production systems involve seawater environments, with salinity typically exceeding 20 per cent.
Key Findings:
- Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, known to cause a broad spectrum of infections in humans, exhibited high resistance against penicillin across all systems – shrimp (94.3 per cent), freshwater fish (91.4 per cent), marine fish (79.2 per cent).
- Erythromycin resistance was also observed in freshwater (34.3 per cent), shrimp (40.8 per cent), and marine isolates (18.8 per cent). Additionally, freshwater fish showed notable resistance to ciprofloxacin (54.8 per cent).
- For coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species (CONS) isolates, penicillin resistance across all systems was in the range of 76-91.5 per cent. Resistance to cefoxitin ranged from 18-38.5 per cent, while resistance to erythromycin varied from 22.6-36.1 per cent. CONS isolates are implicated in a range of clinically significant human infections, including skin and bloodstream infections.
- In case of E coli, which also causes a range of common infections in humans, while isolates from freshwater were susceptible to most antimicrobials, they exhibited moderate resistance mainly against ampicillin (39.2 per cent) in shrimps.
- In marine samples, they showed higher resistance to cefotaxime (54.1 per cent) and cefpodoxime (66.9 per cent) as compared to freshwater and shrimp samples.
- In addition, resistance patterns for Vibrio sp, which are prevalent in saltwater environments and associated with foodborne infections, were also documented in the shrimp and marine fish samples. Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a type of Vibrio species, was also specifically assessed.
- In both cases, notable resistance was observed against ampicillin (56-59 per cent) in shrimp samples, while highest resistance was observed against cefotaxime (around 56 per cent) in marine samples. Aeromonas species, which was only studied in the freshwater fish samples, mainly showed resistance against cefoxitin (42.7 per cent).
Resistance in food-producing animals:
- The major food-producing animals included in this surveillance were cattle, buffalo, goat, sheep, pig and poultry.
- Out of a total of 5,983 samples across 32 districts which were collected, 2,076 E coli and 1,244 Staphylococcus isolates were characterised for their AMR profile using the same antibiotic panel as in the fisheries surveillance.
- In E coli isolates, notable resistance was against cefotaxime (46 per cent) and ampicillin (41 per cent).
- Both S aureus and CONS isolates showed around 75 per cent resistance to penicillin. In addition, 41 of the total S aureus isolates (452) were found to be methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA), a drug-resistant variant of Staphylococcus.
- For both E coli and Staphylococci, isolates from poultry origin exhibited higher resistance rates for all the tested antibiotics as compared to all the other food animals; ampicillin (53 per cent), cefotaxime (51 per cent), tetracycline (approximately 50 per cent), and nalidixic acid (47 per cent) and enrofloxacin (41 per cent).
Multidrug resistance analysis:
- The report analysed multidrug resistance (MDR) patterns in E coli isolates of aquaculture origin, revealing that 39 per cent of isolates exhibited MDR, which indicates resistance to three or more antimicrobial classes.
- MDR was also detected in E coli isolates from food animal samples. The most prominent MDR was observed against a combination of cefotaxime-enrofloxacin and tetracycline (12.6 per cent), with approximately 15.8 per cent of poultry isolates exhibiting this simultaneous resistance.
- Overall, 370 isolates of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing E coli and 292 isolates of AmpC type β-lactamase producers were also identified in the study. These pathogens are associated with MDR.
Recommendations:
- While acknowledging the limited coverage of all regions in India in this surveillance, the report underscored that it provides a baseline data for further understanding AMR trends in India in the animal food sector and for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions.
- The report showed low levels of resistance in both the fisheries and animal sectors to certain less commonly used antibiotics (such as chloramphenicol).
- It also documented notable levels of resistance to macrolides like erythromycin, quinolones such as ciprofloxacin, and third and fourth-generation cephalosporins like cefotaxime and cefpodoxime.
- All these are critically important antimicrobials with quinolones and third and fourth-generation cephalosporins being highest priority critically important antimicrobials. These observations suggest the need for judicious antibiotic use in food animal production systems like aquaculture and livestock.
Department of Pharmaceuticals announces the Revamped Pharmaceuticals Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
Why in news?
- The Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers announced the Revamped Pharmaceuticals Technology Upgradation Assistance (RPTUAS) Scheme.
Background:
- The approval of the revised Scheme follows a comprehensive review by the Scheme Steering Committee in light of the requirements of the revised Schedule-M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rule, 1945 as issued by the Department of Health & Family Welfare on 28 December 2023.
- The revised guideline aims to support the pharmaceutical industry's up-gradation to the Revised Schedule-M & WHO-GMP standards, enhancing the quality and safety of pharmaceutical products manufactured in India.
Key Features of the Revised Scheme:
- Broadened Eligibility Criteria: Reflecting a more inclusive approach, eligibility for the PTUAS has been expanded beyond Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to include any pharmaceutical manufacturing unit with a turnover of less than 500 crores that requires technology and quality upgradation. Preference remains for MSMEs, supporting smaller players in achieving high-quality manufacturing standards.
- Flexible Financing Options: The scheme introduces more flexible financing options, emphasizing subsidies on reimbursement basis, over traditional credit-linked approach. This flexibility is designed to diversify the financing options of the participating units, facilitating a more widespread adoption of the scheme.
- Comprehensive Support for Compliance with New Standards: In alignment with revised Schedule-M and WHO-GMP standards, the scheme now supports a broader range of technological upgrades. Eligible activities include improvements such as HVAC systems, water and steam utilities, testing laboratories, stability chambers, clean room facilities, effluent treatment, waste management etc. ensuring comprehensive support for participating units.
- Dynamic Incentive Structure: Pharmaceutical units with the average turnover for the last three years will be eligible for incentive subject to a maximum of Rs. 1.00 crore per unit.
- State Government Scheme Integration: The revised scheme allows integration with state government schemes, enabling units to benefit from additional top-up assistance. This collaborative approach aims to maximize support for the pharmaceutical industry in their technology upgradation efforts.
- Enhanced Verification Mechanism: The scheme introduces a robust verification mechanism through a Project Management Agency, ensuring transparency, accountability and the efficient allocation of resources.
Way Forward:
- Department of Pharmaceuticals is confident that reform in the PTUAS Scheme will contribute to pharmaceutical industry’s growth and compliance with global manufacturing standards.
- The revamped Scheme underscores government’s commitment to supporting the pharmaceutical industry which is critical to the nation’s health and well-being.
