A framework for web based geographical information systems for country wide antimicrobial resistance monitoring

• Drug resistance is becoming a major concern.
• It is a major consequence of misuse of antimicrobial agents.
• GIS tools may be useful to keep an eye on changing antimicrobial pattern.
• It may help physicians to improve the empirical choice of antibiotic.
• A framework to implement such tool is presented for policy makers.

Drug resistance—arising from the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial agents—is becoming a major concern as new strains of resistant microorganisms are emerging and fewer new antimicrobial drugs are in development. This paper presents an idea of implementing a Real Time Web Based Information System to monitor changes in the antibiotic sensitivity of microorganisms, located at different areas and time periods based on data collected from accredited laboratories. This pattern can be mapped over geographical map of the area and can be interpreted by clinicians/policy makers. The authors demonstrate the use of such information system using cross sectional data obtained from a nasopharyngeal swab survey of 151 children affected with HIV. Such system can aid physicians to improve the choice of antibiotic to be administered using real time data.