2025 Data Challenge

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health threat in Pakistan, where over 60% of the disease burden stems from communicable illnesses like respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Despite the National Action Plan for AMR launched in 2017, irrational antibiotic use persists, with 8 in 10 hospital prescriptions falling under the WHO’s high-risk “Watch” category, with increasing use of last-resort “Reserve” antibiotics. Limited infectious disease surveillance and constrained healthcare access further accelerate AMR’s progression. To combat this, enhancing antimicrobial stewardship and improving empiric antibiotic selection are critical. One impactful approach is implementing stratified ICU antibiograms. Unlike cumulative antibiograms that generalise resistance data, stratified antibiograms offer granular insights by categorising bacterial resistance patterns based on infection site, patient demographics, and clinical setting. This targeted method enhances treatment accuracy, reducing complications, speeding recovery, and preventing treatment failures. By guiding more precise antibiotic choices, stratified antibiograms align prescribing practices with WHO’s AWaRe framework. They also contribute to public health efforts by enabling real-time AMR surveillance, helping detect emerging resistance trends, monitor outbreaks, and refine infection control strategies. Their adoption supports systemic improvements—standardising lab practices, enhancing resource utilisation, and strengthening infection control, particularly in resource-limited ICUs. In Pakistan, where AMR is surging and stewardship is underdeveloped, stratified ICU antibiograms present a practical, evidence-based tool to optimise patient care and curb misuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Their integration into clinical workflows could not only improve outcomes but also advance national and global AMR containment efforts in line with WHO and CLSI guidance.