ICIUM 2011
Drug Resistance

The ICIUM 2011 Drug Resistance track welcomes abstracts addressing all aspects of drug resistance with a focus on antibacterial resistance. We invite submission of abstracts on preventing the development and spread of antibacterial resistance (both hospital- and community-acquired), on environmental aspects and surveillance of antibacterial resistance, and on antibiotic prescribing and consumption. Abstracts on developing antibacterial stewardship programs to improve prescribing, dosing, dispensing, and community use are especially welcome. Additionally, abstracts related to consequences of resistance including economic analyses and in relation to innovations such as new antibacterial agents and diagnostic tools will also be accepted.

In particular, this track should cover research on the following items and controversial issues during the five half-day conference program:

1 - GLOBAL AND REGIONAL ISSUES

This area will focus on global issues and initiatives regarding surveillance and the burden of antibacterial (mis-) use and associated resistance, including the role of international organizations such as the WHO and that of drug manufacturers. Examples of areas to present are:

  • What resistance surveillance tells us (or not)?
  • Health-economic impact of antibiotic (over) use and resistance around the world: how to better evaluate the burden and tackle methodological challenges related to antibacterial resistance?
  • Update on current trends and data: what are the most important emerging antibiotic-resistant pathogens?
  • Antibacterial drug development: priority or threat for policy-making?
  • Influence of pharmaceutical industry practices – both positive and negative on prescribing patterns and antibiotic use.
  • International Health Regulation: a tool for better response and rapid control of emerging antibiotic-resistant bacteria?
  • Quality of surveillance of antibiotic usage: successes and challenges of surveillance networks? Identification of knowledge gaps? How to link the growing number of specialized surveillance networks?
  • WHOnet, EARSS and ESAC surveillance networks: reliable data for policy making? Issues in relation to setting up surveillance networks at national and regional levels
  • Global and regional issues in relation to community based surveillance – Is it needed? Feasible? Standard methodologies for both resistance and antibiotic use
  • Appropriate methods for data analyses - linking resistance and antibiotic use data in order to inform policy change

2 - NATIONAL SYSTEMS, PROGRAMS AND POLICIES ON CONTROL OF ANTIBACTERIAL USE AND RESISTANCE

This area might include the following key questions: What are countries, governments and national insurance programs doing to promote rational use of antibiotics? What is the effect of governmental policies on antimicrobial use?

  • Successes and failures of national programs and policies to modify antibiotic prescribing behavior: country examples and lessons to be learned (e.g. South Korea, Taiwan, Chile, Turkey, Belgium)
  • Impact of changes in reimbursement policies on antibiotic prescribing patterns
  • Effect of national formulary systems and health insurance schemes (incl. antibiotic restrictions and pre-approval mechanisms): do they work?
  • What are insurance programs doing to promote rational use of antibiotics
  • Antimicrobial drug development: A national or international priority issue for policy-making?
  • Influence of pharmaceutical industry practices – both positive and negative on prescribing patterns and antibiotic use.
  • How to develop and sustain a shared evidence base for what can improve antibiotic prescribing, dispensing, and use
  • Examples of national programs and government structures to support those programs and the impact on antibiotic use (countries might not have adequate government structure in the MOHs to support national programs)

3 - HEALTH CARE AND FINANCING INSTITUTIONS 

This area will focus on hospital hygiene and prevention of health care associated infections including those caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDRO):

  • Infection control in resource-poor countries: which are the most successful programs and initiatives to implement?
  • Recent success stories on control and prevention of MDROs (MRSA, VRE, KPC/MBL) and lessons to be learned
  • Global hand hygiene promotion (The WHO experience: worldwide "clean care is safer care"): a true success story?
  • Can decolonization strategies improve MDRO control?
  • How to evaluate and discontinue useless MDRO control practices?
  • Evidence for international spread of MDRO, examples of successful countermeasures

4 - HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS 

This area will focus on research for understanding and improving antibiotic dispensing/prescribing in health care settings including pharmacies, primary care, hospitals, but may also include issues in relation to prevention of infections:

  • ICIUM 2004 versus 2011: any substantial progress seen?
  • The future of hospital antibiotic stewardship – what should we achieve by 2020?
  • Computerized decision support systems – ready for prime time?
  • Interactive E-learning tools
  • Improved diagnostic tools (biomarkers, rapid DNA-based test systems)
  • Clinical pathways and algorithms
  • Improving antibiotic prescribing/dispensing by various types of interventions e.g. educational
  • Understanding reasons for unsatisfactory hygiene and dispensing/prescribing practices

5 - CONSUMERS, PATIENTS AND COMMUNITY SYSTEMS 

This area will cover public campaigns, patients and community systems targeted at improving patient (mainly outpatient) antibiotic use:

  • What are the experiences on public awareness campaigns to improve patient antibiotic use?
  • Are QI efforts effective at reducing unnecessary antibiotic use in ambulatory settings?
  • What is the role of vaccination in influencing antibiotic use and resistance
  • Stopping the over-the-counter sale of antibiotic agents – can it be achieved?
  • Self-medication with antibiotics – how common is it? Is it good or bad?
  • Can bacterial resistance be reduced by reducing prescribing of unnecessary antibiotics for e.g. respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and improving the quality of diagnostic procedures in primary care?
  • Improving the availability and appropriate use of RDTs: evidence from randomized trials