ICMR Releases Antimicrobial Guidelines 2022: Here are Updates on Use of Amoxicillin

The guideline has been revised from the 2017 National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) initiative. The second edition of this, which included updated information on guidelines for treating infections, including bone and joint infections, skin and soft tissue infections, and central nervous system infections, was published in 2019. It included their dosage, method of administration, and length of therapy.

The goal of the guideline is to provide medical personnel with a practical guide for treating patients and using antimicrobial agents appropriately. The guidelines will also help with effective antimicrobial prescription and dispensing, enhancing patient care and, most importantly, reducing the burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the nation, which is a threat today and has overshadowed the potential benefit of lowering infection-related death rates.

In this article, an evidential light is shed on Amoxicillin, the most commonly prescribed antimicrobial agent in outpatient settings and the first choice for treating common infections.

Since Amoxicillin has been prescribed extensively, it is expected that refinements in its evidential use could significantly enhance practitioners' prescribing practices.

According to the latest guideline, the following are the indications for the use of Amoxicillin as the first choice of treatment:

• Bacterial sinusitis: The guideline laid down Amoxicillin as the first choice of treatment in mild bacterial sinusitis for an adult with a treatment duration of 5-7 days and in children 10-14 days.
• Acute otitis media: Children between 2 and 5 years with mild disease can be treated for 7 days and those above 5 years with 5-7 days of therapy.
• Pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP): For children aged > 1 month, Amoxicillin is the first choice of therapy.
• Urinary tract infection (UTI) in Children: The guideline recommended Amoxicillin as the first choice of therapy, and the treatment regime can be for 5-7 days.

Reference: Treatment Guidelines for Antimicrobial Use in Common Syndromes 2022