THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Action guidelines for district-level AMR (Antimicrobial Resistance) committees have been released to prevent unnecessary and unscientific use of antibiotics. Awareness posters in Malayalam should be displayed in hospitals, and all health workers and students should be trained in infection control activities and AMR prevention. Prescription audits should be conducted every three months. Infection control committees and antimicrobial stewardship committees should be formed in hospitals, and WHO's surgical safety checklist should be implemented in all surgical units.

District Medical Officers (Health) should chair the AMR Working Committee, and District AMR Executive Committees should be formed. Labs should be connected through lab networks to understand the exact level of antibiotic resistance.

World Health Organization has estimated that one billion people will die from antimicrobial resistance in 2050 due to the unscientific use of antibiotics. State-level antibiograms and district-level antibiograms have been released for the first time in the country. AMR committees have been formed in all districts and blocks. More hospitals have been shifted to the CARSNET network and Antibiotic Smart. Previously, block-level AMR guidelines for committees were released. Additionally, action guidelines for district-level AMR committees have been released by the minister.