Lok Sabha Question No. 2770 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-02
Subject: Superbugs
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2770 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 ND DECEMBER, 2016

## SUPERBUGS

## 2770. SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  the  recent  DeNIS  (Delhi  Neonata Infection) study published in Lancet highlighting the high rate of newborn infant mortalit issue of 'superbugs' infections and the failure of drugs for the treatment of babies;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (c) the preventive measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

- (a ) & ( b) : The  Delhi  Neonatal  Infection  Study  (DeNIS):    followed  up  a  cohort  of  88,63 newborn infants for about 3 years in three large hospitals in Delhi, I ndia, and represents one of the largest studies to date of neonatal sepsis and resistance in the Indian subcontinent.

The  DeNIS  study  highlights  the  serious  risk  associated  with  neonatal  sepsis resistance in health - care facilities even among the bette r performing hospitals in a large middle -income country.

With an increased focus on institutionalising births in India and other low - income and middle - income  countries,  the  quality  of  care  and  infection  control  in  health - care  institu ions must receive gre ater attention and resources.

Resistance among hospital acquired infections in Indian hospitals is a growing pro and  driven  by  a  combination  of  poor  infection  control  and  high,  uncontrolled  rat antimicrobial prescribing.

Contd…….

(c): As highlighted in the study that preventive strategies to reduce the risks and bu neonatal  infections,  early  detection  and  prescribing  of  appropriate  antibiotics  will  r cornerstone of management strategies. Government of India strategies are al so built on the same principles.

Support to the states in the annual state programme implementation plan is provided for required infrastructure including 24 x 7  running water and electricity, Human resource i support staff to ensure adherence to house - keeping protocols, dissemination of updated Training Packages for capacity bui lding of service providers with special emphasis on asepsis, rational of  antibiotics  and  for  ensuring  prevention  of  infection  and  rational  management  of  ne sepsis and bio - medical waste management.

Real  time  monitoring  of  rational  use  of  antibiot ics  by  using  SNCU  online  reporting mechanism  is  in  place.    Regular  feedback  to  the  states  based  on  SNCU  reports  on  ser utilization is provided.

Collaborative  Centres  and  State  Resource  Centres  are  set  up  to  provide  regu monitoring of quality of ser vices, mentoring and supportive supervision.

Maternal  and  Newborn  Health  (MNH)    Tool  Kit  has  been  disseminated  to  ensure infection prevention protocols in Labour rooms.

Community awareness for hygiene and hand washing is promoted through Home based Newbo rn Care Programme through ASHA

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