Did the periodic intensification of routine immunisation strategy (Intensified mission Indradhanush) reduce the demand for pediatric antibiotic formulations in India?

Abstract Background Recent research has indicated an increase in antibiotic utilisation, particularly pediatric formulations. Furthermore, an increasing trend in antimicrobial resistance rates has also been reported. Empirical evidence suggests that immunisation reduces the demand for antibiotics. W...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Habib Hasan Farooqui, Anup Karan, Aashna Mehta, Giridhara Rathnaiah Babu, Onno C. P. van Schayck
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Infectious Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11082-3
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849731886831632384
author Habib Hasan Farooqui
Anup Karan
Aashna Mehta
Giridhara Rathnaiah Babu
Onno C. P. van Schayck
author_facet Habib Hasan Farooqui
Anup Karan
Aashna Mehta
Giridhara Rathnaiah Babu
Onno C. P. van Schayck
author_sort Habib Hasan Farooqui
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Recent research has indicated an increase in antibiotic utilisation, particularly pediatric formulations. Furthermore, an increasing trend in antimicrobial resistance rates has also been reported. Empirical evidence suggests that immunisation reduces the demand for antibiotics. We examined the potential impact of the periodic intensification of the routine immunisation strategy - Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI), which was implemented from October 2017 to January 2018, on antibiotic utilisation in India. Methods We analysed the PharmaTrac dataset to assess the impact of IMI on antibiotic utilisation. We conducted interrupted time series analyses by fitting a Poisson regression model. We used Newey–West standard errors to account for autocorrelation and heteroskedasticity. Findings Poisson segmented regression analysis showed a 12.6% decrease in Fluoroquinolones sales in the first month of IMI implementation (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.874, 95%CI: 0.777–0.983). However, post-intervention, their sales remained broadly constant (IRR 1.000, 95%CI 0.995–1.006). Similarly, Chloramphenicol sales decreased by 0.6% in the first month, whereas sales increased by a trend of 0.4% per month (IRR 1.004, 95%CI 0.991–1.017) post-intervention. Interestingly, Trimethoprim sales increased by 17.1% in the first month but decreased by 0.4% per month (IRR 0.959, 95%CI 0.945–0.973) post-intervention. However, there was a modest increase in sales of Macrolides by 3.0%, Cephalosporins by 2.9% and broad-spectrum Penicillin by 0.2% in the first month. Thereafter, Macrolides sales increased by a monthly rate of 0.5% (IRR 1.005, 95% CI 1.000–1.010), Cephalosporins increased by 0.5% (IRR 1.005, 95% CI 1.000 -1.010) and Broad spectrum penicillin increased by 0.9% (IRR 1.009, 95% CI 1.004–1.013) in the post-intervention period. Furthermore, there were heterogeneities across Indian states. Interpretation The IMI’s impact on antibiotic utilisation was heterogeneous across antibiotic classes and Indian states.
format Article
id doaj-art-bb60e779e6364f5294b5794c2a022a7a
institution DOAJ
issn 1471-2334
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Infectious Diseases
spelling doaj-art-bb60e779e6364f5294b5794c2a022a7a2025-08-20T03:08:24ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342025-05-012511810.1186/s12879-025-11082-3Did the periodic intensification of routine immunisation strategy (Intensified mission Indradhanush) reduce the demand for pediatric antibiotic formulations in India?Habib Hasan Farooqui0Anup Karan1Aashna Mehta2Giridhara Rathnaiah Babu3Onno C. P. van Schayck4Department of Population Medicine, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar UniversityPublic Health Foundation of IndiaPublic Health Foundation of IndiaDepartment of Population Medicine, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar UniversityCare and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht UniversityAbstract Background Recent research has indicated an increase in antibiotic utilisation, particularly pediatric formulations. Furthermore, an increasing trend in antimicrobial resistance rates has also been reported. Empirical evidence suggests that immunisation reduces the demand for antibiotics. We examined the potential impact of the periodic intensification of the routine immunisation strategy - Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI), which was implemented from October 2017 to January 2018, on antibiotic utilisation in India. Methods We analysed the PharmaTrac dataset to assess the impact of IMI on antibiotic utilisation. We conducted interrupted time series analyses by fitting a Poisson regression model. We used Newey–West standard errors to account for autocorrelation and heteroskedasticity. Findings Poisson segmented regression analysis showed a 12.6% decrease in Fluoroquinolones sales in the first month of IMI implementation (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.874, 95%CI: 0.777–0.983). However, post-intervention, their sales remained broadly constant (IRR 1.000, 95%CI 0.995–1.006). Similarly, Chloramphenicol sales decreased by 0.6% in the first month, whereas sales increased by a trend of 0.4% per month (IRR 1.004, 95%CI 0.991–1.017) post-intervention. Interestingly, Trimethoprim sales increased by 17.1% in the first month but decreased by 0.4% per month (IRR 0.959, 95%CI 0.945–0.973) post-intervention. However, there was a modest increase in sales of Macrolides by 3.0%, Cephalosporins by 2.9% and broad-spectrum Penicillin by 0.2% in the first month. Thereafter, Macrolides sales increased by a monthly rate of 0.5% (IRR 1.005, 95% CI 1.000–1.010), Cephalosporins increased by 0.5% (IRR 1.005, 95% CI 1.000 -1.010) and Broad spectrum penicillin increased by 0.9% (IRR 1.009, 95% CI 1.004–1.013) in the post-intervention period. Furthermore, there were heterogeneities across Indian states. Interpretation The IMI’s impact on antibiotic utilisation was heterogeneous across antibiotic classes and Indian states.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11082-3IndiaAntibiotic utilisationImmunisationIntensified mission IndradhanushInterrupted time series
spellingShingle Habib Hasan Farooqui
Anup Karan
Aashna Mehta
Giridhara Rathnaiah Babu
Onno C. P. van Schayck
Did the periodic intensification of routine immunisation strategy (Intensified mission Indradhanush) reduce the demand for pediatric antibiotic formulations in India?
BMC Infectious Diseases
India
Antibiotic utilisation
Immunisation
Intensified mission Indradhanush
Interrupted time series
title Did the periodic intensification of routine immunisation strategy (Intensified mission Indradhanush) reduce the demand for pediatric antibiotic formulations in India?
title_full Did the periodic intensification of routine immunisation strategy (Intensified mission Indradhanush) reduce the demand for pediatric antibiotic formulations in India?
title_fullStr Did the periodic intensification of routine immunisation strategy (Intensified mission Indradhanush) reduce the demand for pediatric antibiotic formulations in India?
title_full_unstemmed Did the periodic intensification of routine immunisation strategy (Intensified mission Indradhanush) reduce the demand for pediatric antibiotic formulations in India?
title_short Did the periodic intensification of routine immunisation strategy (Intensified mission Indradhanush) reduce the demand for pediatric antibiotic formulations in India?
title_sort did the periodic intensification of routine immunisation strategy intensified mission indradhanush reduce the demand for pediatric antibiotic formulations in india
topic India
Antibiotic utilisation
Immunisation
Intensified mission Indradhanush
Interrupted time series
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11082-3
work_keys_str_mv AT habibhasanfarooqui didtheperiodicintensificationofroutineimmunisationstrategyintensifiedmissionindradhanushreducethedemandforpediatricantibioticformulationsinindia
AT anupkaran didtheperiodicintensificationofroutineimmunisationstrategyintensifiedmissionindradhanushreducethedemandforpediatricantibioticformulationsinindia
AT aashnamehta didtheperiodicintensificationofroutineimmunisationstrategyintensifiedmissionindradhanushreducethedemandforpediatricantibioticformulationsinindia
AT giridhararathnaiahbabu didtheperiodicintensificationofroutineimmunisationstrategyintensifiedmissionindradhanushreducethedemandforpediatricantibioticformulationsinindia
AT onnocpvanschayck didtheperiodicintensificationofroutineimmunisationstrategyintensifiedmissionindradhanushreducethedemandforpediatricantibioticformulationsinindia