1: A Brief about INFAAR and its New Report

- The Indian Network for Fishery and Animal Antimicrobial Resistance (INFAAR), initiated by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) in tandem with the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), is a dedicated platform to keep tabs on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in India's aquaculture and veterinary sectors.

- Recently, they released the first-ever national report documenting AMR surveillance in the country’s fisheries and livestock sectors (i.e., the INFAAR 2019-22 Report).

2: Understanding Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

- Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a global concern where microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc., evolve resistance against antimicrobial medicines, making them ineffective in treating infections.

- Misuse of certain medications like oxytocin in dairy industries contributes towards this issue.

3: Key Observations from the INFAAR Report

- The INFAAR report revealed a notably high resistance (60% or higher) to penicillin in the fisheries sector, primarily by Staphylococcus.

- Even higher resistance levels were observed in the livestock sector, particularly among E. coli and Staphylococci.

- Antibiotic usage seems to be more prevalent in organised and contractual farming practices.

- The data gathered by INFAAR for this report covers the years 2019 through 2022, and includes information from three aquaculture systems and several major food-producing animals.

4: Other Initiatives against AMR

- Besides INFAAR, several other initiatives are on board to battle the rising tide of AMR, including the AMR Surveillance Network and the National One Health Program for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses.

- The Integrated One Health Surveillance Network for Antimicrobial Resistance and the GLASS IT Platform, a web-based platform, are dedicated to global data sharing on AMR.

- Furthermore, Operation AMRITH (Antimicrobial Resistance Intervention For Total Health) focuses on implementing interventions for comprehensive health protection.

5: Importance and Insights

- The INFAAR report provides critical insights into the prevalence and pattern of AMR in India's aquaculture and livestock sectors. The findings highlight the sectors and regions requiring urgent action.

- Monitoring AMR is imperative to public health safety, as it can lead to severe outcomes if infections cannot be controlled due to antimicrobial resistance.

- The initiative helps in planning and executing suitable interventions, thereby contributing towards achieving the objectives of the National Action Plan on AMR.