Cidscon-2024 Focuses on Antimicrobial Resistance and New Infectious Threats
Hyderabad: The 14th annual conference of Clinical Infectious Diseases Society, Cidscon-2004, focused on two critical challenges threatening public health in India: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and emerging infections.
AMR is a silent pandemic particularly in India, which has one of the highest burdens of drug-resistant infections (DRIs) worldwide. Currently, about 1 million AMR-associated deaths occur in India, contributing to an estimated 5 million deaths globally each year. Projections indicate that by 2050, AMR could result in 10 million deaths annually, surpassing cancer-associated deaths.
Gram-negative bacteria like Klebsiella and E. coli are major contributors, with high rates of carbapenem resistance. The Clinical Infectious Diseases Society (CIDS) promotes stewardship programmes, research, surveillance, infection control, and public awareness to combat AMR effectively.
The emergence of new infections is also a growing concern. In 2024, more than 150 cases of Chandipura virus encephalitis were reported in western India, new cases of Nipah virus infection emerged in Kerala, and over 20 cases of primary amoebic encephalitis were documented in Kerala and West Bengal. These incidents highlight the dynamic nature of infectious diseases and the urgent need for vigilance and preparedness.
CIDS suggests expanding surveillance for early detection of infections, advocating interdisciplinary collaboration and research on climate change’s role in disease spread.
The event was inaugurated by Dr Atul Goel, Director-General of Health Services (DGHS), Union health ministry, and provided a platform for discussions on the latest advancements and challenges in infectious disease management.
In attendance were Dr Sangita Reddy, joint managing director, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd, Dr George M. Varghese, president, and Dr Vasant Nagvekar, secretary, and Dr Ashwini Tayade, treasurer, of CIDS; Dr Suneetha Narreddy, organising chairperson, Dr Venkat Ramesh, organising secretary and Dr O.C. Abraham, scientific committee chairman of Cidscon.
