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Pediatrics

Antibiotic Utilization in India Decreases Following Routine Immunization Strategy

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Research conducted by Qatar University has revealed a 12.6% decrease in Fluoroquinolones sales in the first month of the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) routine immunization strategy. The study, published in the BMC Infectious Diseases journal, also found varying trends in sales of other antibiotic classes. The research suggests that the IMI strategy may have reduced the demand for antibiotics in India, particularly among pediatric formulations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) routine immunization strategy implemented in India from October 2017 to January 2018 resulted in a 12.6% decrease in Fluoroquinolones sales in the first month.
  • Poisson segmented regression analysis showed a 0.6% decrease in Chloramphenicol sales in the first month, followed by a trend of 0.4% increase per month post-intervention.
  • Trimethoprim sales increased by 17.1% in the first month, but decreased by 0.4% per month post-intervention.
  • 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.
  • Macrolides sales increased by a monthly rate of 0.5%, Cephalosporins increased by 0.5%, and Broad spectrum penicillin increased by 0.9% in the post-intervention period.
  • The IMI's impact on antibiotic utilisation was heterogeneous across antibiotic classes and Indian states.
  • The study's findings suggest that the IMI strategy may have reduced the demand for antibiotics in India, particularly among pediatric formulations.

Statistics:

  • 12.6% decrease in Fluoroquinolones sales in the first month of IMI implementation.
  • 0.6% decrease in Chloramphenicol sales in the first month, followed by a trend of 0.4% increase per month post-intervention.
  • 17.1% increase in Trimethoprim sales in the first month, followed by a decrease of 0.4% per month post-intervention.
  • 3.0% increase in Macrolides sales in the first month, followed by an increase of 0.5% per month post-intervention.
  • 2.9% increase in Cephalosporins sales in the first month, followed by an increase of 0.5% per month post-intervention.
  • 0.2% increase in Broad spectrum penicillin sales in the first month, followed by an increase of 0.9% per month post-intervention.

Sources:

  • Did the periodic intensification of routine immunisation strategy (Intensified mission Indradhanush) reduce the demand for pediatric antibiotic formulations in India?. BMC Infectious Diseases, 2025,25(1):1-8.
  • BMC Infectious Diseases - http://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com.
  • The publisher for BMC Infectious Diseases is BMC.
  • A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11082-3.
  • Our news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Habib Hasan Farooqui, Department of Population Medicine, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University.
  • Additional authors for this research include Anup Karan, Aashna Mehta, Giridhara Rathnaiah Babu, Onno C. P. van Schayck.

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