Context: A team of researchers from Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology-Delhi (IIIT-Delhi) have come up with AI-powered data integration and predictive analytics tools (AMRSense and AMROrbit Scorecard) to understand patterns of antibiotic resistance in real time.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR); Role of AI in combating AMR.
What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?
- Antimicrobial resistance is the resistance acquired by any microorganism (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasite, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials) that are used to treat infections.
- Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as superbugs. Due to AMR, standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist and may spread to others.
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the top threats to public health.
Role of AI tools in combating Antibiotic Resistance
- The AI-driven tool AMRSense has been deployed to use routine data that is generated in hospitals to generate accurate and early insights on antimicrobial resistance at the global, national, and hospital levels.
- Utility:
- Bridge gap in community-level AMR data collection and evidence-based management.
- AI-assisted data recording: Empowers community health workers (CHWs) for accurate and simplified data collection.
- Data integration by creating a unified AMR data ecosystem through the integration of data on antibiotic sales, consumption, and WHO Net-compliant surveillance data, using open-source tools and APIs.
- Predictive analytics by using federated analytics across the One Health Ecosystem for integrative insights on AMR.
- AMROrbit Scorecard for monitoring and evaluating AMR trends to guide targeted interventions and demonstrate the benefits of data collection.
- Promote AI-driven or AI-enhanced antimicrobial stewardship.
- Limitations: Lack of consistent surveillance data including antibiotic sales data, patient records etc.
Also Read: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)